Public Hearing on “Excessive Prescribing”

The Arkansas State Medical Board will hold a public hearing on April 5, 2018, beginning at 8:30 a.m. on revisions to the proposed amendments to Regulation 2.4 concerning definitions for “excessive prescribing.”

The Board held an informational hearing at their last meeting and have since made several very helpful changes to the proposed amendments. The amendment now differentiates the requirements for prescribing opioids for chronic pain versus acute pain by placing the related requirements in two separate sections.

Many of the chronic pain provisions are not applicable for treating acute pain. The Board has also removed requirements for consulting with a pain specialist when prescribing (for chronic pain) ≥ 90 MED per day.