Initial prescription for certain controlled substances for treatment of pain: Requirements for issuance; condition on issuing additional prescriptions.

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1. Before issuing an initial prescription for a controlled substance listed in schedule II, III or IV for the treatment of pain, a practitioner, other than a veterinarian, must:

(a) Have established a bona fide relationship, as described in subsection 4 of NRS 639.235, with the patient;

(b) Perform an evaluation and risk assessment of the patient that meets the requirements of subsection 1 of NRS 639.23912;

(c) Establish a preliminary diagnosis of the patient and a treatment plan tailored toward treating the pain of the patient and the cause of that pain;

(d) Document in the medical record of the patient the reasons for prescribing the controlled substance instead of an alternative treatment that does not require the use of a controlled substance; and

(e) Obtain informed consent to the use of the controlled substance that meets the requirements of subsection 2 of NRS 639.23912 from:

(1) The patient, if the patient is 18 years of age or older or legally emancipated and has the capacity to give such consent;

(2) The parent or guardian of a patient who is less than 18 years of age and not legally emancipated; or

(3) The legal guardian of a patient of any age who has been adjudicated mentally incapacitated.

2. If a practitioner, other than a veterinarian, prescribes a controlled substance listed in schedule II, III or IV for the treatment of pain, the practitioner shall not issue more than one additional prescription that increases the dose of the controlled substance unless the practitioner meets with the patient, in person or using telehealth, to reevaluate the treatment plan established pursuant to paragraph (c) of subsection 1.

(Added to NRS by 2017, 4431; A 2019, 2138)


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