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Update: TMB Extends Emergency Telemedicine Pain Script Waiver
By Amy Lynn Sorrel

The Texas Medical Board (TMB) once again extended its emergency waiver permitting telemedicine refills of certain controlled substance prescriptions for pain patients, this time for 75 days.

The latest extension runs through Oct. 13 at 11:59 pm (or until the end of the governor's COVID-19 disaster declaration, whichever is shorter). The extension allows physicians to issue the refills via telephone or telemedicine if:

  1. The doctor has seen the established chronic pain patient within the past 90 days; and
  2. That visit took place either in person or via telemedicine using two-way audio and video communication.

TMB rules typically prohibit treatment of chronic pain with scheduled drugs via telemedicine visits, “unless otherwise allowed under federal and state law.”

 

 

Last Updated On

August 02, 2021

Originally Published On

May 03, 2021

Amy Lynn Sorrel

Associate Vice President, Editorial Strategy & Programming
Division of Communications and Marketing

(512) 370-1384
amy.sorrel[at]texmed[dot]org  
Amy Sorrel

Amy Lynn Sorrel has covered health care policy for nearly 20 years. She got her start in Chicago after earning her master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and went on to cover health care as an award-winning writer for the American Medical Association, and as an associate editor and managing editor at TMA. Amy is also passionate about health in general as a cancer survivor, avid athlete, traveler, and cook. She grew up in California and now lives in Austin with her Aggie husband and daughter.

More stories by Amy Sorrel  

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