Important Information
from the State Medical Board of Ohio
Board Seeks Comments Regarding Proposed Acute Pain Rules
April 20,
2017 18548 18548 
The Medical Board is accepting comments on proposed amendments to two existing rules and a proposed new rule that will limit initial opioid analgesic prescriptions for acute pain to 5 days for minors and 7 days for adults. The rules also include a 30MED average daily dose limit.
(1) Rule 4731-11-01 Definitions Amended by adding definitions for acute pain, morphine equivalent dose, minor, extended-release or long-acting opioid analgesic, opioid analgesic, palliative care and terminal condition.
(2) Rule 4731-11-02 General Provisions Amended by adding a requirement that physicians and physician assistants must follow Rules 4729-5-30 and 4729-5-13, Ohio Administrative Code. This will include the requirement that prescriptions for controlled substances will need to include the diagnosis.
(3) New Rule 4731-11-13 Prescribing of opioid analgesics for acute pain
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Limits prescriptions for opioid analgesics to treat acute pain to no more than a seven-day supply for adults and a five-day supply for minors. If the physician determines that the pain is expected to persist for longer than seven days, the physician may prescribe for a longer period, but the reason for exceeding the limits and for prescribing an opioid analgesic must be documented in the patient’s medical record.
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Requires that the patient and the parent or guardian of a minor patient is advised of the benefits and risks of the opioid analgesic, including the potential for addiction.
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Clarifies that the rule does not apply to the treatment of patients receiving hospice or palliative care, cancer and terminal illness, or medication assisted treatment for addiction.
*These proposed rules do not apply to your chronic (long-term) pain patients.