Washington Administrative Code
Title 246 - Health, Department of
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND LICENSING
Chapter 246-918 - Physician assistants Washington medical commission
OPIOID PRESCRIBING-CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT
Section 246-918-870 - Periodic review-Chronic pain
Universal Citation: WA Admin Code 246-918-870
Current through Register Vol. 24-18, September 15, 2024
(1) The physician assistant shall periodically review the course of treatment for chronic pain. The frequency of visits, biological testing, and PMP queries in accordance with the provisions of WAC 246-918-935, must be determined based on the patient's risk category:
(a) For a high-risk patient, at least
quarterly;
(b) For a moderate-risk
patient, at least semiannually;
(c)
For a low-risk patient, at least annually;
(d) Immediately upon indication of concerning
aberrant behavior; and
(e) More
frequently at the physician assistant's discretion.
(2) During the periodic review, the physician assistant shall determine:
(a) The patient's
compliance with any medication treatment plan;
(b) If pain, function, and quality of life
have improved, diminished, or are maintained; and
(c) If continuation or modification of
medications for pain management treatment is necessary based on the physician
assistant's evaluation of progress towards or maintenance of treatment
objectives and compliance with the treatment plan.
(3) Periodic patient evaluations must also include:
(a) History and physical examination
related to the pain;
(b) Use of
validated tools or patient report from reliable patients to document either
maintenance or change in function and pain control; and
(c) Review of the Washington state PMP at a
frequency determined by the patient's risk category in accordance with the
provisions of WAC 246-918-935 and subsection (1) of this section.
(4) If the patient violates the terms of the agreement, the violation and the physician assistant's response to the violation will be documented, as well as the rationale for changes in the treatment plan.
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