Miscellaneous: Notes from the June 2008 Texas Medical Board Meeting
“Pill Mills” are an ongoing problem in the southern region of Texas. The Medical Board has been working with the DPS to crack down on these “Pill Mills” which are prescribing 3-5s because these are not reported. There is a plan on the table to make all 3-5s reported to the DPS but it would be administratively burdensome on the pharmacists.
My Thoughts: Only a fool would be involved in a pill mill. These are the bad doctors the Board is rightly focusing on. However, the notion of having to report all controlled substances is likely overkill for both pharmacists and law enforcement.
The Board is continuing to work with the TMA on physician rehabilitation issues.
The Board directed staff to look at language and wording for a proposal requiring a statutory change allowing doctors to prescribe medication to partners of patients with STDs without first seeing them. It was mentioned that other states have rules accommodating these patients.
My Thought: John Jackson, M.D. is the TMA Chair for the PHRC Committee. He has worked tirelessly for a rehabilitation committee that will allow doctors to report their addition problems without fear of the Board taking action. This would be a positive step in the right direction as physician with such issues have been driven under ground by the current actions of the TMB, in my opinion. Most states have a program like this. In fact, nurses in Texas have a program like this that is very successful. It is time for this. It is good to see the Board working with the recovery community in this way.
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2 comments:
Jon, What is a 3-5?
3-5's refer to Schedule III to V as assigned by the DEA
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