Washington Administrative Code
Title 246 - Health, Department of
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND LICENSING
Chapter 246-918 - Physician assistants Washington medical commission
OPIOID PRESCRIBING-SPECIAL POPULATIONS
Section 246-918-910 - Special populations-Children or adolescent patients, pregnant patients, and aging populations
Current through Register Vol. 24-18, September 15, 2024
(1) Children or adolescent patients. In the treatment of pain for children or adolescent patients, the physician assistant shall treat pain in a manner equal to that of an adult but must account for the weight of the patient and adjust the dosage prescribed accordingly.
(2) Pregnant patients. The physician assistant shall not initiate opioid detoxification without consultation with a provider with expertise in addiction medicine. Medication assisted treatment for opioids, such as methadone or buprenorphine, must not be discontinued during pregnancy without consultation with a MAT prescribing practitioner.
(3) Aging populations. As people age, their sensitivities to and metabolizing of opioids may change. The physician assistant shall consider the distinctive needs of patients who are sixty-five years of age or older and who have been on chronic opioid therapy or who are initiating opioid treatment.
