TITLE 18. PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING

BOARD OF MEDICINE

Agency Decision

Title of Regulation: 18VAC85-21. Regulations Governing Prescribing of Opioids and Buprenorphine.

Statutory Authority: §§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-2928.2 of the Code of Virginia.

Name of Petitioner: Dr. Lee Tannenbaum.

Nature of Petitioner's Request: To amend 18VAC85-21-150 I to allow prescribing of up to the federal Food and Drug Administration approved limit of 32 mg QD (one a day).

Agency Decision: Request denied.

Statement of Reason for Decision: Opposition to the change noted that the federal Food and Drug Administration and the American Society for Addiction Medicine support a maximum of 24 mg per day and that there is little evidence of further benefit from increasing the dosage. It was also noted that if a patient is unable to reach full recovery on 24 mg daily, it signals drug failure and other options must be considered.

Agency Contact: William L. Harp, M.D., Executive Director, Board of Medicine, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4558, or email william.harp@dhp.virginia.gov.

VA.R. Doc. No. R20-19 Filed February 21, 2020, 9:09 a.m.

Agency Decision

Title of Regulation: 18VAC85-50. Regulations Governing the Practice of Physician Assistants.

Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.

Name of Petitioner: Virginia Academy of Physician Assistants.

Nature of Petitioner's Request: To eliminate the requirement for the name of a patient care team physician to appear on a prescription written by a physician assistant for a controlled substance in Schedules II through V.

Agency Decision: Request denied.

Statement of Reason for Decision: At its meeting on February 20, 2020, the board considered the petition and the comments in support and opposition. The board decided to take no action and confirmed that it was appropriate for the physician's name to be included on a prescription for Schedules II through V drugs. Board members noted that the electronic medical record should be configured to comply with the law and that there are options available to allow for compliance.

Agency Contact: William L. Harp, M.D., Executive Director, Board of Medicine, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4558, or email william.harp@dhp.virginia.gov.

VA.R. Doc. No. R20-14 Filed February 21, 2020, 9:16 a.m.

BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

Initial Agency Notice

Title of Regulation: 18VAC150-20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Veterinary Medicine.

Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.

Name of Petitioner: Jeffree Hudson.

Nature of Petitioner's Request: To amend regulations to require sedation of an animal to be euthanized.

Agency Plan for Disposition of Request: The petition will be published on March 16, 2020, in the Virginia Register of Regulations and also posted on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall at www.townhall.virginia.gov to receive public comment ending April 15, 2020. Following receipt of all comments on the petition to amend regulations, the board will decide whether to make any changes to the regulatory language. This matter will be on the board's agenda for its first meeting after the comment period, which is scheduled for July 28, 2020. The petitioner will be informed of its decision after that meeting.

Public Comment Deadline: April 15, 2020.

Agency Contact: Elaine J. Yeatts, Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Health Professions, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4688, or email elaine.yeatts@dhp.virginia.gov.

VA.R. Doc. No. R20-25 Filed February 21, 2020, 9:23 a.m.