Use of buprenorphine products

(a) A product containing buprenorphine, whether with or without naloxone, may only be prescribed for a use recognized by the federal food and drug administration. This subsection (a) does not apply to a person who has a documented diagnosis of opiate addiction as shown in the person’s medical record. Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!(b) (1) Any prescription for buprenorphine mono or for buprenorphine without use of naloxone for the treatment of substance use disorder shall only be permitted to a patient who is: (A) Pregnant; (B) A nursing mother; (C) Has a documented history of an adverse reaction or hypersensitivity to naloxone; or (D) Directly administered the buprenorphine mono or buprenorphine without use of naloxone by a healthcare provider, acting within the healthcare provider’s scope of practice, for the treatment of substance use disorder pursuant to a medical order or prescription order from a physician licensed under title 63, chapter 6 or 9; provided, however, that this subdivision (b)(1)(D) does not permit buprenorphine mono or buprenorphine without use of naloxone to be dispensed to a patient in a manner that would permit it to be administered away from the premises on which it is dispensed. (2) If the prescriber of buprenorphine mono or buprenorphine without use of naloxone for a patient under subdivision (b)(1)(A) or (b)(1)(B) is not the patient’s obstetrical or gynecological provider, the prescriber shall consult with the patient’s obstetrical or gynecological provider to the extent possible to determine whether the prescription is appropriate for the patient. (c) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, and except as otherwise provided in subdivision (c)(2), a physician licensed under title 63, chapter 6 or 9, is the only healthcare provider authorized to prescribe any buprenorphine product for any federal food and drug administration approved use in recovery or medication-assisted treatment. (2) Healthcare providers not licensed pursuant to title 63, chapter 6 or 9, and who are otherwise permitted to prescribe Schedule II or III drugs under this title, are prohibited from prescribing any buprenorphine product for the treatment of opioid use disorder unless the provider: (A) Is licensed and has practiced as a family, adult, or psychiatric nurse practitioner or physician assistant in this state; (B) Has had no limitations or conditions imposed on the provider’s license by the provider’s licensing authority within the previous three (3) years; (C) Is employed by a community mental health center, as defined in § 33-1-101, or a federally qualified health center, as defined in § 63-10-601(a), that employs one (1) or more physicians and has adopted clinical protocols for medication-assisted treatment; (D) Is employed at a facility at which healthcare providers are contracted and credentialed with TennCare and TennCare’s managed care organizations to treat opioid use disorder with buprenorphine products for use in recovery or medication-assisted treatment; (E) Is employed at a facility at which healthcare providers are accepting new TennCare enrollees or patients for treatment of opiate addiction; (F) Is employed by a facility that requires patients to verify identification; (G) Does not write any prescription for a buprenorphine product that exceeds a sixteen-milligram daily equivalent; (H) Does not prescribe or dispense a mono product or buprenorphine without naloxone; (I) Works under the supervision of a physician who (a) A product containing buprenorphine, whether with or without naloxone, may only be prescribed for a use recognized by the federal food and drug administration. This subsection (a) does not apply to a person who has a documented diagnosis of opiate addiction as shown in the person’s medical record. is actively treating patients with buprenorphine products for recovery or medication-assisted treatment; (J) [Repealed]; (K) Prescribes buprenorphine products only to patients who are treated through the organization that employs the provider; (L) Is supervised by or collaborates with a physician who is limited to the supervision of, or collaboration for, a maximum of four (4) licensed nurse practitioners or physician assistants; (M) Is supervised by or collaborates with a physician who reviews one hundred percent (100%) of the charts of the patients being prescribed a buprenorphine product; (N) Weighs the risk of relapse with the benefit of tapering down or off of buprenorphine when, similar to other disease states, tapering from the treatment medication is clinically appropriate and in agreement with the patient and tapering schedules and durations are patient specific. Providers shall initiate and lead a discussion regarding patient readiness to taper down or taper off treatment medications employed in the patient’s treatment with each patient at any time upon the patient’s request but no later than one (1) year after initiating treatment and then every six (