Texas: NP's only prescribe hydrocodone products to hospice pt./hospital facility practicie

[NRSKarenRN]

Texas BON and BOM Statement: Hydrocodone Containing Products and Tramadol

...All providers who order, dispense,or prescribe HCPs in the state of Texas must comply with requirements for prescribing Schedule II medications as set forth in state and federal law beginning on October 6, 2014. Advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants may only prescribe hydrocodone combination products when providing care to hospice patients or practicing in hospital facility based practices as provided for in Chapter 157.0511(b1) of the Texas Occupations Code and if registered with DEA and DPS to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances...

[MikeFNPC, MSN]

True for me also, I didn't have any questions related to substance abuse. Pretty sad considering the degree of difficulty it is managing that patient.

[caliotter3]

This policy has nothing to do with reducing abuse and all about diminishing the practice of NPs. If it was truly meant to tackle abusers then the same policy would apply to MDs unless they are pain specialists.

Sent from my iPhone -- blame all errors on spellcheck

Right on the money. My thoughts exactly when I read the thread title.

[Skip from Texas]

My goodness. Any concerns for slowing and stopping the opioid epidemic must be tampered down a bit for those with severe chronic pain. 

We live in a rural area without a local pain management facility. Patients who live here that require hydrocodone for pain must now travel 2 hours to receive treatment.

We have a large elderly population and their age adds to travel complications that must occur monthly.

I suppose I fall on the patient side of this issue.

Stopping the illigal import of fentanyl from entering our southern border will do more for stopping opioid deaths than these overreaching government regulations against law abiding citizens.