W. Va. Code R. § 24-2-2

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section 24-2-2 - Definitions

2.1. "Active practice notification" means a practice notification which is currently in effect.

2.2. "Authorization to practice" means written notification from the Board that a physician assistant may commence practice in collaboration with physicians pursuant to an active practice notification.

2.3. "Board" means the West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine.

2.4. "Collaborating Physician" means a doctor of osteopathic medicine, medicine, or podiatry, who is authorized to practice clinical medicine or podiatric medicine in West Virginia by the appropriate board in this state, without restriction or limitation, who collaborates with physician assistants.

2.5. "Collaboration" means overseeing the activities of the medical services rendered by a physician assistant. Constant physical presence of the collaborating physician is not required as long as the collaborating physician and physician assistant are, or can be, easily in contact with one another by telecommunication. Collaboration does not require the personal presence of the collaborating physician at the place or places where services are rendered.

2.6. "Controlled substances" means drugs that are classified by federal or state law in Schedules I, II, III, IV or V, as defined in W. Va. Code §§ 60A-2-204 through 212.

2.7. "Core duties" means medical acts that are included in the standard curricula of accredited physician assistant education programs.

2.8. "Endorsement" means a summer camp or volunteer endorsement to practice as a physician assistant under W. Va. Code § 30-3E-1.

2.9. "Health Care Facility" means any licensed hospital, nursing home, extended care facility, state health or mental institution, clinic or physician's office.

2.10. "Hospital" means a facility licensed pursuant to W. Va. Code § 16-5B-1et seq.

2.11. "License" means a license issued by the Board to a physician assistant applicant pursuant to the provisions of W. Va. Code § 30-3E-1et seq. and the provisions of this legislative rule.

2.12. "Licensee" means a physician assistant licensed pursuant to the provisions of W. Va. Code § 30-3E-1et seq. and the provisions of this legislative rule.

2.13. "Licensure" means the process of application to the Board and the Board's consideration and approval of individuals to practice as a physician assistant in collaboration with physicians.

2.14. "Narcotic drug" and "opioid" mean controlled substance medications which are natural and semi-synthetic derivatives of the opium poppy, as well as similar synthetic compounds that have analgesic or pain-relieving properties because of their effects in the central nervous system. Narcotic drugs and opioids include, but are not limited to, codeine, morphine, hydromorphone, hydrocodone, oxycodone, methadone, and fentanyl.

2.15. "NCCPA" means The National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants.

2.16. "Medical Board" means the West Virginia Board of Medicine.

2.17. "Physician" means a doctor of allopathic or osteopathic medicine who is fully licensed by this Board or the Board of Medicine to practice medicine or surgery in this state.

2.18. "Physician Assistant" means a person who meets the qualifications set forth in the Physician Assistants Practice Act, W. Va. Code § 30-3E-1et seq., and is licensed to practice medicine with a collaborating osteopathic physician. Physician assistant also means an individual who holds a physician assistant license in another state and an interstate telehealth registration issued by this Board.

2.19. "Practice notification" means a written notice to the Board that a physician assistant will practice in collaboration with one or more physicians in the state of West Virginia.

2.20. "Practice setting" means the type of practice environment, and includes hospitals, ambulatory surgical facilities, clinics, private medical offices, and long term care facilities.

2.21. "Prescription drug" means a drug that may be dispensed under federal or state law only pursuant to the prescription of an authorized prescriber.

2.22. "Prescriptive authority" means the authority of a physician assistant to prescribe, order, administer or dispense prescription drugs.

2.23. "Registrant" means a physician assistant issued an interstate telehealth registration by the Board pursuant to W. Va. Code § 30-1-26.

2.24. "Registration" means an authorization to practice in collaboration with physicians issued by the Board pursuant to W. Va. Code § 30-1-26 for the limited purpose of providing interstate telehealth services.

2.25. "Reporting period" means the two-year period preceding the renewal deadline for a license issued by the Board.

2.26. "Risk Assessment and Responsible Prescribing of Controlled Substances" means drug diversion training, best-practice prescribing of controlled substances training, and training on prescribing and administering an opioid antagonist which shall include all of the following components:

2.26.1. Risk Assessment and responding to drug diversion and drug seeking behavior, including:

2.26.1.a. Tools for conducting routine patient assessments for risk factors associated with drug diversion, misuse or abuse, and identification of substance use disorder treatment referral resources;

2.26.1.b. West Virginia specific statistics on prescription drug abuse and resulting deaths;

2.26.1.c. Identification of diversion and drug seeking tactics and behaviors;

2.26.1.d. Best practices for assessing, treating and referring patients suspected of drug seeking behavior, diversion, or substance use disorder;

2.26.1.e. Introduction to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) and training on the effectiveness of MOUD treatment including the use of full opioid agonist, partial opioid agonist, and opioid antagonists; and

2.26.1.f. Training on the impacts of stigma on treatment effectiveness including the concept of addiction as a chronic disease.

2.26.2. Responsible prescribing of controlled substances, including:

2.26.2.a. Compliance with state and federal controlled substances laws, rules, and regulations, including the Opioid Reduction Act, W. Va. Code § 16-54-1et seq.;

2.26.2.b. Registering with and utilization of the West Virginia Controlled Substances Monitoring Program established in W. Va. Code § 60A-9-1et seq.;

2.26.2.c. Epidemiology of chronic pain in West Virginia and misuse of opioids;

2.26.2.d. Indication for opioids in chronic pain treatment including general characteristics, toxicities, and drug interactions;

2.26.2.e. Examination of patient evaluation and risk assessment and tools to assess risk and monitor benefits;

2.26.2.f. Initiation and ongoing management of chronic pain patients treated with opioid based therapies, including treatment objectives; monitoring and periodic review; referrals and consultations; informed consent; prescription of controlled substance agreements, urine screens and pill counts; patient education on safe use, storage, and disposal of opioids; discontinuation of opioids for pain due to lack of benefits or increased risks; documentation and medical records;

2.26.2.g. Presentation of a case study of a patient with chronic pain; and

2.26.2.h. Best practices for managing patients with active prescriptions for more than one controlled substance.

2.26.3. Training on prescribing and administering an opioid antagonist.

2.27. "Website" or "Board's website" means the set of related web pages operated by or on behalf of the West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine located at the domain name www.wvbdosteo.org, or at any successor domain name published by the Board.

W. Va. Code R. § 24-2-2