PDFWAC 246-840-4651

Patient notification, secure storage, and disposal.

(1) The practitioner shall provide information to the patient educating them of:
(a) Risks associated with the use of opioids as appropriate to the medical condition, the type of patient, and the phase of treatment;
(b) The safe and secure storage of opioid prescriptions;
(c) The proper disposal of unused opioid medications including, but not limited to, the availability of recognized drug take-back programs; and
(d) The patient's right to refuse an opioid prescription or order for any reason.
(2) The practitioner shall document such notification in the patient record. If the patient refuses an opioid prescription or order, the practitioner must document the patient's request and avoid prescribing or ordering opioids, unless the request is revoked by the patient.
(3) Patient notification must occur, at a minimum, at the following points of treatment:
(a) The first issuance of a prescription for an opioid; and
(b) The transition between phases of treatment, as follows:
(i) Acute nonoperative pain or acute perioperative pain to subacute pain; and
(ii) Subacute pain to chronic pain.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.79.110. 18.79.800, and 34.05.353. WSR 20-02-026, § 246-840-4651, filed 12/19/19, effective 1/19/20. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.79.800 and 2017 c 297. WSR 18-20-086, § 246-840-4651, filed 10/1/18, effective 11/1/18.]