Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 3, September 1, 2024
RELATES TO:
KRS
311.550,
311.595(9),
311.597,
311.842,
311.850(1)(s)
NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY:
KRS
311.565(1)(a) authorizes the
board to promulgate administrative regulations to regulate the conduct of
licensees.
KRS
311.595(9) and
311.597
authorize disciplinary action against physicians for specified offenses.
KRS
311.842(1) requires the
board to promulgate administrative regulations establishing prescribing and
administering standards for physician assistants. This administrative
regulation establishes the requirements governing the use of amphetamine and
amphetamine-like anorectic controlled substances.
Section 1. Definitions.
(1) "Board" is defined by
KRS
311.550(1).
(2) "Body mass index" means the weight of the
patient in kilograms divided by the height in meters, squared.
(3) "Licensee" means a person licensed to
practice medicine or osteopathy or to practice as a physician assistant in the
Commonwealth of Kentucky and authorized to prescribe, dispense, or administer
controlled substances unless otherwise exempted by law.
(4) "Schedule II amphetamine or
amphetamine-like controlled substance" means:
(a) Amphetamine, its salts, optical isomers,
and salts of optical isomers; or
(b) Methylphenidate.
(5) "Schedule III or IV amphetamine-like
controlled substance" means a drug classified as a stimulant pursuant to
902 KAR
55:015, Section 3 or 4.
Section 2. Prior to prescribing, ordering,
dispensing, administering, selling, supplying, or giving an amphetamine or
amphetamine-like controlled substance, a licensee shall take into account the:
(1) Drug's potential for abuse;
(2) Possibility that a drug may lead to
dependence;
(3) Possibility a
patient will obtain the drug for a nontherapeutic use;
(4) Possibility a patient will distribute it
to others; and
(5) Potential
illicit market for the drug.
Section
3. Schedule II Amphetamine or Amphetamine-like Controlled
Substances.
(1) The patient's record shall
denote the diagnosis that justifies treatment with a Schedule II amphetamine or
amphetamine-like controlled substance.
(2) A Schedule II amphetamine or
amphetamine-like controlled substance shall be used to treat only:
(a) Narcolepsy;
(b) Attention deficit/hyperactive
disorder;
(c) Resistant depressive
disorder in combination with other antidepressant medications, or if
alternative antidepressants and other therapeutic modalities are
contraindicated;
(d) Drug-induced
brain dysfunction;
(e) A diagnosis
for which the clinical use of the Schedule II amphetamine or amphetaminelike
controlled substance is investigational and the investigative protocol has been
submitted, reviewed, and approved by the board prior to the clinical use of the
drug; or
(f) An adult patient with
a moderate to severe binge-eating disorder, if diagnosed according to criteria
set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders at the
time of diagnosis.
(3) A
Schedule II amphetamine or amphetamine-like controlled substance shall not be
utilized to treat obesity.
Section
4. Treatment of Obesity with a Schedule III or IV Amphetamine-like
Controlled Substance.
(1) Prior to
prescribing, administering, dispensing, ordering, selling, supplying, or giving
a Schedule III or IV amphetamine-like controlled substance to treat obesity in
a patient sixteen (16) years of age or older, the licensee shall:
(a) Establish a licensee /patient
relationship;
(b) Determine that
the patient is obese or overweight with medical risk factors and is a proper
candidate for weight reduction treatment;
(c) Determine and record the extent of prior
anorectics or other controlled substances used by the patient. The prescribing
licensee shall obtain and review a KASPER report for the twelve (12) month
period immediately preceding the patient encounter, before prescribing or
dispensing controlled substances to the patient;
(d) Determine that the patient has either:
1. A body mass index of twenty-seven (27) or
more, unless the body mass index is twenty-five (25) to twenty-seven (27) and
the patient has a co-morbidity such as a cardiovascular disease, diabetes
mellitus, dyslipidemia, hypertension, or sleep apnea;
2. Body fat greater than or equal to thirty
(30) percent in females or greater than or equal to twenty-five (25) percent in
males;
3. Current body weight
greater than or equal to 120 percent of a well-documented, longstanding,
healthy weight that the patient maintained after age eighteen (18);
4. A waist-hip ratio or waist circumference
at a level indicating that the individual is known to be at increased
cardiovascular or co-morbidity risk because of abdominal visceral fat;
or
5. Presence of a co-morbid
condition or conditions aggravated by the patient's excessive adiposity;
and
(e) Provide the
patient with carefully prescribed diet, together with counseling on exercise,
behavior modification, and other appropriate supportive and collateral
therapies.
(2) During
treatment for obesity, a licensee shall:
(a)
Maintain a licensee /patient relationship throughout the treatment
process;
(b) Maintain an adequate
patient record in accordance with subsection (4) of this section; and
(c) Justify in the patient record the use of
any Schedule III or IV amphetamine-like controlled substance beyond three (3)
months. Before the licensee continues the use of a substance beyond three (3)
months, the licensee shall obtain and review a current KASPER report.
(3) A licensee shall terminate the
use of Schedule III or IV amphetamine-like controlled substances if:
(a) The patient does not demonstrate weight
loss and does not attempt to comply with exercise and dietary
changes;
(b) The body mass index of
the patient without a co-morbid condition is less than twenty-seven (27) and
the percentage of body fat is normal at less than thirty (30) percent in
females or less than twenty-five (25) percent in males;
(c) The body mass index of the patient with a
co-morbid condition is less than twenty-five (25) and the percentage of body
fat is normal at less than thirty (30) percent in females or less than
twenty-five (25) percent in males;
(d) The patient has regained the weight lost,
using sympathomimetics as part of a complete program and reuse of the
medication does not produce loss of the weight gain to help maintain a minimum
of five (5) percent weight loss; or
(e) The patient has obtained a Schedule III
or IV amphetamine-like controlled substance from another provider without the
licensee's knowledge and consent.
(4) The board shall consider the following
factors in reviewing the adequacy of a patient record:
(a) Medical history, including:
1. Illnesses, with particular emphasis on
cardiovascular diseases;
2.
Surgery;
3. Lifestyle;
4. Medications, including controlled
substances;
5. Eating
habits;
6. Exercise;
7. Weight gain or loss;
8. Prior efforts at weight control or
reduction;
9. Prior treatment
compliance;
10. Menstruation or
pregnancy; and
11. Psychiatric
history with particular reference to depression, paranoia, psychosis, or
chemical dependency;
(b)
Social history;
(c) Family
history;
(d) Complete physical
examination;
(e) Evaluation of
laboratory tests including:
1. CBC;
2. Fasting blood sugar;
3. Thyroid panel or TSH;
4. Lipid profile;
5. Serum potassium;
6. Liver function test; and
7. Renal function test;
(f) An informed consent signed by the patient
that cites the limitations and risk of anorectic treatment including potential
dependency or psychiatric illness;
(g)
1. A
signed agreement that the patient has voluntarily agreed to:
a. Have one (1) prescribing licensee for
controlled substances;
b. Use one
(1) pharmacy to fill prescriptions for controlled substances;
c. Not have early refills on the
prescriptions for controlled substances; and
d. Provide full disclosure of other
medications taken; or
2.
Documentation that:
a. The licensee requested
the patient sign an agreement meeting the requirements of subparagraph 1 of
this paragraph;
b. The patient
declined to sign the agreement; and
c. Indicates the licensee's clinical reasons
for prescribing, or continuing to prescribe, a Schedule III or IV
amphetamine-like controlled substance to the patient, in light of the patient's
refusal to sign the agreement; and
(h) A record of each office visit, including:
1. The patient's weight;
2. The patient's blood pressure;
3. The patient's pulse;
4. The presence or absence of medication side
effects or complications;
5. The
doses of medications prescribed;
6.
The patient's body mass index; and
7. Evaluation of the patient's compliance
with the total treatment regimen.
Section 5. Waiver. For a legitimate medical
purpose, a licensee may apply in writing for a written waiver of any
requirement in this administrative regulation. The board may issue a waiver
with terms and conditions it deems appropriate.
Section 6. Failure to comply with the
requirements of this administrative regulation shall constitute dishonorable,
unethical, or unprofessional conduct by a licensee which is apt to deceive,
defraud, or harm the public under:
(1)
KRS
311.595(9) and
311.597;
or
(2)
KRS
311.850(1)(s).
STATUTORY AUTHORITY:
KRS
311.565(1),
311.842(1)