Washington Administrative Code
Title 246 - Health, Department of
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND LICENSING
Chapter 246-853 - Osteopathic physicians and surgeons
OPIOID PRESCRIBING-ACUTE NONOPERATIVE PAIN AND ACUTE PERIOPERATIVE PAIN
Section 246-853-695 - Treatment plan-Acute nonoperative pain

Universal Citation: WA Admin Code 246-853-695

Current through Register Vol. 24-18, September 15, 2024

The osteopathic physician shall comply with the requirements in this section when prescribing opioid analgesics for acute nonoperative pain and shall document completion of these requirements in the patient record:

(1) The osteopathic physician shall consider prescribing nonopioid analgesics as the first line of pain control in patients in accordance with the provisions of WAC 246-853-680, unless not clinically appropriate.

(2) The osteopathic physician, or their designee, shall conduct queries of the PMP in accordance with the provisions of WAC 246-853-790 to identify any Schedule II-V medications or drugs of concern received by the patient and document their review and any concerns.

(3) If the osteopathic physician prescribes opioids for effective pain control, such prescription must not be in a greater quantity than needed for the expected duration of pain severe enough to require opioids.

(a) A three-day supply or less will often be sufficient.

(b) More than a seven-day supply will rarely be needed.

(c) The osteopathic physician shall not prescribe beyond a seven-day supply without clinical documentation in the patient record to justify the need for such a quantity.

(4) The osteopathic physician shall reevaluate the patient who does not follow the expected course of recovery. If significant and documented improvement in function or pain control has not occurred, the osteopathic physician shall reconsider the continued use of opioids or whether tapering or discontinuing opioids is clinically indicated.

(5) Follow-up visits for pain control must include objectives or metrics to be used to determine treatment success if opioids are to be continued. This includes, at a minimum:

(a) Change in pain level;

(b) Change in physical function;

(c) Change in psychosocial function;

(d) Additional planned diagnostic evaluations to investigate causes of continued acute nonoperative pain or other treatments.

(6) Long-acting or extended release opioids are not indicated for acute nonoperative pain. Should an osteopathic physician need to prescribe a long-acting opioid for acute pain, the osteopathic physician must document the reason in the patient record.

(7) An osteopathic physician shall not discontinue medication assisted treatment medications when treating acute pain, except as consistent with the provisions of WAC 246-853-780.

(8) If the osteopathic physician elects to treat a patient with opioids beyond the six-week time period of acute non-operative pain, the osteopathic physician shall document in the patient record that the patient is transitioning from acute pain to subacute pain. Rules governing the treatment of sub-acute pain in WAC 246-853-705 and 246-853-710 shall apply.

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