Education for Controlled Substance Prescribers
Required Course for License Renewal
In Utah, legislation was passed that requires health care providers licensed to prescribe controlled substances to complete 3.5 hours of Department of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) approved continuing education on Schedule II and III controlled substances that are applicable to opioid narcotics, hypnotic depressants, and psychostimulants. (Utah Code Section 58-37-6.5) This required education is intended to reduce the negative effects of controlled substances in Utah.
The UMA Foundation course, CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES: EDUCATION FOR THE PRESCRIBER, is approved by DOPL and available online. You may take the course in one sitting or incrementally and at your convenience from work, home, or any location with internet access. Click here to get instructions on how to begin the registration process or to re-access the course.
Note: In addition to this course, DOPL requires controlled substance prescribers to complete the thirty-minute Controlled Substance Database (CSD) tutorial and examination. This is the same DOPL course that you have already been taking every two years for licensure renewal.
Hydrocodone Combo Products Now Schedule II Drugs
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently published a final rule (PDF) in the Federal Register rescheduling hydrocodone combination products to Schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The DEA’s rationale for the move is to combat prescription drug abuse. As these drugs were previously in Schedule III, this change has dramatically increased the restrictions on prescribing and dispensing practices for hydrocodone combination products. The rule went into effect October 6, 2014. UMA members should identify patients being treated with hydrocodone combination products and change prescribing practices to conform to the drugs’ more restrictive Schedule II requirements.
This change will affect prescription refills as follows: As of October 6, 2014, Hydrocodone combination prescriptions may not authorize any refills. A new prescription must be written by the prescriber if the patient requires continued therapy.