prescriptions Archives | Carson Tahoe Health

New Bill Imposes Strict Regulations on Prescribing Controlled Substances

In response to the rising opioid crisis in the United States, Nevada law makers recently passed Assembly Bill 474, otherwise known as the “The Controlled Substance Abuse Act,” making various changes to how doctors prescribe controlled substances to their patients. The bill, which went into effect January 1, 2018, requires prescribers to evaluate each patient and their specific needs before prescribing large amounts of medication. The hope is that the rigorous processes may lead to proper use (and less abuse) of specific medications, which may not be necessary for the patient. Before writing an initial prescription for a controlled substance each prescriber must have: An established relationship with the patient Given the patient a comprehensive physical and mental health assessment Obtained …