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Georgia and Texas prohibit PAs from prescribing Schedule II drugs; However, they may prescribe Schedule III-V drugs. [5] In addition, Arkansas and Missouri only allow PAs to prescribe hydrocodone combination products listed in Schedule II drugs. Many other states have restrictions on the supply that can be prescribed and distributed. For example, PAs prescribe Schedule II drugs that are limited to a 30-day supply in Arizona, Illinois, Montana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and South Dakota. Some states also restrict PAs` ability to prescribe refills for Schedule II drugs by requiring supervised medical approval. Some states also require PAs to complete agency-approved controlled substances courses before they can prescribe listed drugs. [4] In addition, the following individuals may issue a valid prescription as long as they follow certain rules in their own field: Regardless of the specific prescribing patterns of different types of providers, all providers must focus on patient-centred care. The growing professions of PAs and NPs are critical to alleviating the burden of a physician shortage, particularly in primary care. [14] In addition, the use of advanced practice providers is a cost-effective means of providing comparable health services to the public. [15] The Affordable Care Act has resulted in an increase in patient workload and demand for primary care, necessitating the full use of advanced practice providers. The expansion of the normative powers of PAs and NPs is a mechanism to mitigate the increased health needs of the public. NPs have the normative authority to prescribe controlled substances in all fifty states.

However, NPs cannot prescribe Schedule II drugs in Georgia, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and West Virginia. [4] In addition, the laws of the states of Arkansas and Missouri limit NPs to prescribe only Schedule II combinations of hydrocodone. In particular, surveys have shown that many NPs have used strategies to prescribe controlled substances that were not strictly legal. These strategies included using pre-signed prescription pads, signing the prescription by a physician without consultation, and prescribing planned medications without the physician`s involvement. [8] In particular, the adoption of legislation allowing for greater regulation-making power is not synonymous with the adoption by providers of advanced practices. For example, in 2001, Washington State passed legislation allowing NPs to prescribe Schedule II-IV drugs as part of a joint practice agreement with a physician. However, NPs had to turn to the DEA for the expanded prescribing power. Surprisingly, only 60% of NPs submitted Schedule II-IV drug requests after the implementation of the new legislation. [9] Reasons for low acceptance of expanded prescribing powers included concerns about knowledge, questions about discipline by regulators, and concerns about working with patients with drug-seeking behaviour. A legitimate medical purpose cannot be achieved if a prescription for a controlled substance is given to a patient who is not under the care or supervision of the physician. Therefore, California Health and Safety Code 11154(a) prohibits this unless the practice of prescribing drugs in this manner is the physician`s usual practice. The first class of Physician Assistants (PAs) was founded in 1965 and trained in a two-year accelerated program.

[1] This new category of health professionals was created as an innovative solution to the physician shortage. All PAs must have some degree of medical supervision; However, the relationship varies depending on state law. Some states also have restrictions on the drugs PAs are allowed to prescribe by law. The first graduate programs for nurses (NPs) were created in the 1960s to improve public access to pediatric care. [2] These advanced practice providers have been similarly trained to respond to a growing shortage of physicians. Unlike their PA counterparts, NPs in some states have broader normative privileges and do not require medical oversight. However, some states also prohibit NPs from prescribing controlled substances. Importantly for medical professionals who want to comply with the law, this regulation is explicitly violated if you issue a prescription to an addict outside of medical treatment or addiction program to keep that addict comfortable nurturing their addiction. The collateral consequences of a conviction for this crime – consequences that are not always required by state law and are enforced by other parties, including companies and individuals – are also serious. Perhaps the most serious is the waiver of your right to prescribe controlled substances in the future.

This significantly affects your ability to return to the medical profession if you have previously been convicted of illegally dispensing a prescription. Therefore, in order to issue a valid prescription in California, you must follow all established rules. Violation of any of them can result in penalties and possibly even criminal charges. It`s essential to defend yourself against a criminal charge that you broke the law and illegally issued a prescription in California, as sentencing can change the course of your life. That`s why it`s so important to hire a drug advocate like William Kroger of Los Angeles.