Rule changes would require CME in pain management
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After a vigorous debate, the Board voted 6-4 during its March meeting to seek approval for rule changes that would require physicians and physician assistants to complete continuing medical education (CME) in chronic pain management and related topics. Three members of the Board were not present for the vote.
As proposed, the rule changes would require physicians to earn three hours of eligible CME during each three-year CME cycle and PAs to complete two hours of eligible CME during each two-year cycle. To count towards the new requirement, courses would have to cover “controlled substances prescribing practices, recognizing signs of the abuse or misuse of controlled substances, and controlled substance prescribing for chronic pain management.”
The Board supported the proposed changes over an alternate version that would have afforded prescribers the flexibility to tailor controlled substances CME courses to their clinical interests. For example, the alternate rule change language would have allowed a physician whose primary use of controlled substances is prescribing benzodiazepines to satisfy the CME requirement by completing courses in prescribing benzodiazepines.
The alternate rule change considered was inspired by feedback received from licensees who provided comment on the proposed controlled substances CME requirement. Several licensees who provided comments indicated that, while they do prescribe some controlled substances and would be subject to the requirement, they do not prescribe opioids and would not benefit from CME in chronic pain management.
After lengthy discussion and debate, the Board affirmed the requirement that courses cover addressing abuse or misuse and chronic pain management. Board Members who spoke in favor of this requirement expressed conviction that all licensees who prescribe controlled substances will benefit from a better understanding of the clinical challenges in chronic pain management, abuse and misuse of opioids and the associated risk of patient harm or death. It was noted that licensees who do not prescribe opioids likely treat patients who take opioids prescribed by others and, consequently, need to be informed about possible risks and side effects.
NCMB has submitted the proposed CME rule changes to the NC Rules Review Commission, which must approve them before they take effect. The Board anticipates a decision by the end of July.
Review proposed changes to the physician and PA CME rules
As proposed, the rule changes would require physicians to earn three hours of eligible CME during each three-year CME cycle and PAs to complete two hours of eligible CME during each two-year cycle. To count towards the new requirement, courses would have to cover “controlled substances prescribing practices, recognizing signs of the abuse or misuse of controlled substances, and controlled substance prescribing for chronic pain management.”
The Board supported the proposed changes over an alternate version that would have afforded prescribers the flexibility to tailor controlled substances CME courses to their clinical interests. For example, the alternate rule change language would have allowed a physician whose primary use of controlled substances is prescribing benzodiazepines to satisfy the CME requirement by completing courses in prescribing benzodiazepines.
The alternate rule change considered was inspired by feedback received from licensees who provided comment on the proposed controlled substances CME requirement. Several licensees who provided comments indicated that, while they do prescribe some controlled substances and would be subject to the requirement, they do not prescribe opioids and would not benefit from CME in chronic pain management.
After lengthy discussion and debate, the Board affirmed the requirement that courses cover addressing abuse or misuse and chronic pain management. Board Members who spoke in favor of this requirement expressed conviction that all licensees who prescribe controlled substances will benefit from a better understanding of the clinical challenges in chronic pain management, abuse and misuse of opioids and the associated risk of patient harm or death. It was noted that licensees who do not prescribe opioids likely treat patients who take opioids prescribed by others and, consequently, need to be informed about possible risks and side effects.
NCMB has submitted the proposed CME rule changes to the NC Rules Review Commission, which must approve them before they take effect. The Board anticipates a decision by the end of July.
Review proposed changes to the physician and PA CME rules
