Notice for Patients with Chronic Pain

To: All my patients

From: Dr Scoville

Regarding: Narcotic Prescriptions and Narcotic Oversight

It has come to my attention that some of my patients who have chronic pain and for whom I have been prescribing narcotics, that such patients are not able to get their insurance to cover their medications UNLESS the patient and our clinic are adhering to several guidelines dictated by the FDA. 

My policy for narcotic prescriptions has been a simple approach of telling my patients that there is only ONE doctor prescribing a narcotic, and that if there is at any time more than one doctor prescribing narcotics, then I will cease to prescribe thereafter. This policy has worked for me and for my patients and I do periodically check with the State Board of Pharmacy to see if a given patient is adhering to my policy. However this policy does not meet the guidelines prescribed by the FDA and therefore in order for insurance to provide coverage for narcotics, a patient wanting insurance coverage will need to be seen by a Pain Specialist – someone trained to work with chronic pain patients and follow these strict FDA guidelines. 

Therefore patients have three options when coming to renew narcotics from my office as follows:

1. The patient can pay for the cost of the prescription out of their own pocket and therefore continue to receive their prescription from our office and follow our simple narcotic oversight policy
2. If the patient wants to continue getting insurance coverage for their narcotic, then the patient may need to get their narcotic prescription from their primary care doctor (if such clinic is adhering to FDA guidelines)
3. The patient may need to be referred to the Pain and Spine Specialist which follows the strict FDA guidelines for narcotic oversight

Please let our clinic know which of these options you wish to pursue. We continue to appreciate your trust in our care and hope that you will continue to work with us as we work with you to provide you the best of rheumatology care.

Dr. Scoville and Staff

February 14, 2022