Measure for Measure: Prescribing Guidelines, Rules, and Regulations

Washington was one of the first states to legislate prescribing rules for the treatment of chronic pain, a unique model which relied on the use of a dosage trigger and the necessity to calculate morphine equivalency. Following Washington’s lead, other states and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have created their own guidelines and rules that not only vary widely but are often in conflict with each other. This presentation will discuss the recent history of prescribing guidelines, their diffusion across the United States, and their potential impact on medical practice and the treatment of pain. (Recorded at PAINWeek 2017)