The Opioid Crisis: Issues for Health Care Providers

An overview of federal and state laws and legal issues impacting physicians, non-physician practitioners (NPPs), and health care facilities that treat patients with opioids for pain management and opioid use disorders (OUDs).

  • Federal and state governments impose restrictions on both physician and non-physician opioid prescribers
  • To dispense opioids, federal law requires licensed physicians to register with DEA, have an active license, and fulfill educational and training requirements
  • All states have licensing and registration requirements for providers who prescribe opioids

To help combat the ongoing opioid crisis, the federal government and many state governments have enacted statutes to help health care practitioners, including physicians, qualified NPPs, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants (PAs), and health care facilities, respond to OUDs. These statutes establish protocols for handling pain management and OUDs, which address, among other things, treatment plans and the relationship between health care providers and patients.

This article highlights key federal and state legislation governing health care practitioners and facilities treating patients with opioids for pain management and OUDs, focusing on states with greater opioid misuse.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/practical-law-the-journal/legalindustry/opioid-crisis-issues-health-care-providers-2024-11-01/

Filed under: Health,Heroin/Methadone,USA :

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