Regulations governing the prescription of certain medications are expected to change next month following criticism from physicians and patients of House Bill 1, a recently enacted law that targets so-called “pill mills” and doctors who over-prescribe addictive painkillers and other drugs. Officials, including Gov. Steve Beshear, have lauded HB1 for shuttering 10 pain management clinics, reducing the number of prescriptions of commonly abused medications and increasing the number of investigations into suspicious prescribing patterns since it went into effect July 20. However, doctors and patients alike have voiced concerns to legislators over regulations set by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure, such as drug screens prior to and during certain prescriptions for long-term treatment that generally cost about $100 each, as well as the potential criminal and civil implications of failing to follow the law.
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