Controlled substances

Help Promote National Drug Prescription Take Back Day on Oct. 28 - 10/19/2023

Prescription Drug Take Back Day, which allows people to dispose of prescription drugs safely and anonymously, is scheduled for Oct. 26 at locations throughout the state.

Physicians Will Lead Legislature’s Controlled Substances Committee - 07/17/2023

When a special joint committee of the Texas Legislature tackles issues with controlled substances this year, physician-lawmakers will take the lead.

DEA Proposed Rules Address Telehealth Prescribing Post PHE - 03/08/2023

Physicians found new flexibility in prescribing controlled substances via telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that the public health emergency is ending, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has proposed new rules for prescribers it says could preserve some of those flexibilities “with appropriate safeguards.”

Counterfeit Medications Proliferate in Patient Care – and They’re Not Just Illicit Opioids - 01/31/2023

Counterfeit medications are a growing problem that can undermine medical treatment, and all physicians can help prevent their spread by asking patients simple questions.

TMB Rewrites Rule to Improve Chronic Pain Care for Texas Patients - 01/19/2023

The Texas Medical Board recently revised one of its rules in a way that makes it easier for physician practices to provide more comprehensive pain management.

Nationwide Adderall Shortage Expected to Last Through 2022 - 10/31/2022

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expects a nationwide shortage of Adderall and Adderall IR to extend through the end of the year, following manufacturing delays by the largest producer of Adderall in the country, Teva Pharmaceuticals LLC.

TMA Urges CMS to Nix Penalties Related to E-Prescribing Controlled Substances - 10/14/2022

The Texas Medical Association is pushing back against proposed penalties for physicians who don’t electronically prescribe controlled substances.

Texas Medical Board Posts More Details on E-Prescribing Waivers - 12/10/2021

Prescriptions for all controlled substances must be filed electronically. However, prescribers who demonstrate financial or technical hardships, or other exceptional circumstances, can apply for a waiver that, if approved, will grant a one-year delay.

What You Need to Know About Mandatory E-Prescribing Controlled Substances - 01/12/2021

The Texas Medical Association has created a “frequently asked questions” (FAQ) document that can help you understand state and federal laws that went into effect Jan. 1 requiring physicians to electronically prescribe controlled substances as well as various waivers.

How to Prescribe Controlled Substances Under COVID-19 Waivers - 08/19/2020

If you treat patients with chronic pain, you can temporarily prescribe certain controlled substances during a telemedicine visit under state and federal waivers issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

No Cannabis for Pregnant Women or New Mothers, FDA Warns - 10/22/2019

Texas physicians are encouraged to help the U.S. Food and Drug Administration spread the word to pregnant and breast-feeding mothers to avoid using cannabis and cannabis-derived products.

FDA Says No to Prescription Opioid Cough Meds for Children - 01/17/2018

FDA officials announced recently that prescription cough and cold medications that contain codeine or hydrocodone should not be given to patients younger than 18 years because the medicines’ risks outweigh their benefits in children.

DEA Investigations - 04/26/2017

This article provides general information regarding what to do, and what not to do, when a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigator contacts you.

DPS Answers Controlled Substance Certificate Renewal Questions - 05/06/2014

As physicians tell the Texas Medical Association about their continued problems getting the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to process their applications for renewal of their controlled substance certificates, TMA continues to press state officials for an explanation. More importantly, TMA continues to press DPS officials to let physicians know what they have to do to get their renewed certificates and when they can expect to receive them.

Board Pulls Plan for Pharmacists to Check Diagnoses - 02/13/2014

The Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP) quickly killed a proposal that would have required pharmacists to contact the prescribing physician for each new patient with a prescription for a controlled substance. The decision came at a crowded TSBP meeting Feb. 11, 2014. "Another bureaucratic obstacle to medical practice has been stopped," said TMA General Counsel Donald "Rocky" Wilcox.