All PAKC patients who are or may be prescribed controlled substances must sign this PAKC Controlled Substance Policy Agreement Form. Controlled substances are those medications that are considered to have at least some potential for abuse.
PAKC complies with all state and federal regulations regarding the prescription of controlled substances. Our goal is to provide excellence in mental health care while reducing the risk of substance abuse in our community.
Patients being prescribed controlled substances must agree to the possibility of being required to have random toxicology screens in order to be prescribed controlled substances. Refusal to agree with a request for toxicology or positive toxicology screens are grounds for immediate termination of care.
Patients who take prescribed controlled substances in a manner that is inconsistent with how they are prescribed are subject to immediate termination from care.
Patients who fail to disclose that they are receiving controlled substances from other providers or who are pursuing treatment with controlled substances from multiple providers are subject to immediate termination from care.
PAKC prescribers may request medical records from recent prescribers before prescribing any psychiatric medications.
PAKC prescribers recognize that there is not sufficient medical evidence that cannabis is safe or effective for use in mental health conditions to justify its use as a treatment for any mental health condition or in conjunction with any mental health treatment. Our position on this issue is subject to change as further information is obtained from legitimate medical research and published in peer-reviewed medical journals.
PAKC prescribers do not prescribe pain medications, muscle relaxants, or medical cannabis.
Patients taking narcotic pain medications, medical or recreational cannabis, or are abusing drugs or alcohol may not be eligible to be prescribed controlled substances by a PAKC provider.
Patients with a personal or family history of substance abuse may not be eligible to be prescribed controlled substances due to an elevated risk of chemical dependency.
No new controlled substance medications will be prescribed without an in-person appointment with a prescriber. Existing patients that are prescribed controlled substances must be seen in person at least annually. All patients prescribed stimulant ADHD medications must be seen by a PAKC provider (either in-person or telehealth) at a minimum of every 3 months while they are taking the controlled substance. Patients receiving controlled substances that are seen by telehealth must utilize both audio and video during visits as mandated by the DEA.
In compliance with DEA guidance, requests for early refills of controlled substances are prohibited by PAKC even for lost, stolen, or damaged medication. Exception may be made for travel if the refill is due during the time that you will be travelling. In these instances, quantity will be monitored and will not exceed regular dosing.
Most states now require electronic prescribing for controlled substances. PAKC complies with all state prescribing requirements.
No refills of controlled substances will be authorized outside of regular office hours or by an on call physician.
Requests for refills of medications may be made by emailing your provider through the Patient Portal or by leaving a message with your provider’s assistant. Generally, refill requests take 2-3 workdays to process. Please be sure to watch your prescription closely and submit refill requests in a timely fashion.
PAKC complies with all DEA regulations regarding prescription of controlled substances including all regulations surrounding telemedicine. This policy may be altered based on changes in DEA regulations. To minimize substance abuse risk PAKC internally monitors controlled substance prescribing by its providers. All PAKC physicians participate in a peer review process to ensure that controlled substance prescribing remains within accepted guidelines.
