(1) The physician assistant shall consider referring the patient for additional evaluation and treatment as needed to achieve treatment objectives. Special attention should be given to those chronic pain patients who are under eighteen years of age or who are potential high-risk patients.
(2) The mandatory consultation threshold is one hundred twenty milligrams MED. In the event a physician assistant prescribes a dosage amount that meets or exceeds the consultation threshold of one hundred twenty milligrams MED per day, a consultation with a pain management specialist as described in WAC
246-918-895 is required, unless the consultation is exempted under WAC
246-918-885 or
246-918-890.
(3) The mandatory consultation must consist of at least one of the following:
(a) An office visit with the patient and the pain management specialist;
(b) A telephone, electronic, or in-person consultation between the pain management specialist and the physician assistant;
(c) An audio-visual evaluation conducted by the pain management specialist remotely where the patient is present with either the physician assistant or a licensed health care practitioner designated by the physician assistant or the pain management specialist; or
(d) Other chronic pain evaluation services as approved by the commission.
(4) A physician assistant shall document each consultation with the pain management specialist.