Wash. Admin. Code § 246-922-675

Current through Register Vol. 24-23, December 1, 2024

Section 246-922-675 - Patient notification, secure storage, and disposal

(1) The podiatric physician shall provide information to the patient educating them of risks associated with the use of opioids, including the risk of dependence and overdose, as appropriate to the medical condition, the type of patient, and the phase of treatment. The podiatric physician shall document such notification in the patient record.

(2) Patient notification must occur, at a minimum, at the following points of treatment:

(a) The first issuance of a prescription for an opioid; and

(b) The transition between phases of treatment, as follows:

(i) Acute nonoperative pain or acute perioperative pain to subacute pain; and

(ii) Subacute pain to chronic pain.

(3) Patient notification must also include information regarding:

(a) Pain management alternatives to opioid medications as stated in WAC 246-922-680;

(b) The safe and secure storage of opioid prescriptions;

(c) The proper disposal of unused opioid medications including, but not limited to, the availability of recognized drug take-back programs; and

(d) The patient's right to refuse an opioid prescription or order for any reason. In accordance with RCW 18.22.810, if a patient indicates a desire not to receive an opioid, the podiatric physician must document the patient's request and avoid prescribing or ordering opioids, unless the request is revoked by the patient.

(4) If a patient is under eighteen years old or is not competent, the discussion required in subsections (1) through (3) of this section must include the patient's parent, guardian, or the person identified in RCW 7.70.065, unless otherwise provided in law.

(5) As required in RCW 69.50.317 of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, any practitioner who writes the first prescription for an opioid during the course of treatment to any patient must discuss a written copy of the warning language provided by the department under RCW 43.70.765.

(6) This section does not apply to:

(a) Opioid prescriptions issued for the treatment of pain associated with terminal cancer or other terminal diseases, or for palliative, hospice, or other end-of-life care or where the practitioner determines the health, well-being, or care of the patient would be compromised by the requirements of this section and documents such basis for the determination in the patient's health care record; or

(b) Administration of an opioid in an inpatient or outpatient treatment setting.

(7) To fulfill the requirements in this section, a podiatric physician may designate any individual who holds a credential issued by a disciplining authority under RCW 18.130.040 to provide the notification.

Wash. Admin. Code § 246-922-675

Adopted by WSR 18-20-085, Filed 10/1/2018, effective 11/1/2018

Amended by WSR 20-03-123, Filed 1/17/2020, effective 2/17/2020