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Showing 6 posts in KASPER.

Healthcare Practitioners – Three Ways to Use KASPER to Protect Your Practice

Posted In Health Care Law, KASPER

Prevention and compliance best practices for healthcare providers are a hot topic, and this isn’t likely to change, maybe ever. As the opioid crisis continues to grow and healthcare providers come under increasing scrutiny, one tool is emerging as a resource for prescribing providers, and it’s probably not what you would expect: KASPER, Kentucky’s prescription reporting database. Below are three ways to get the most out of KASPER to keep your practice in compliance. More >

Think Twice about DEA Voluntary Surrender

Posted In KASPER, Medicaid, Medicare

It can be an intimidating experience to be sure... A DEA agent or Diversion Investigator, on an unscheduled visit to your office, confronts you with a KASPER, a KBML complaint or some other state regulatory action and alleges violations of the Controlled Substances Act. The DEA Agent then asks you to sign DEA Form 104. This form, which is titled “Voluntary Surrender of Controlled Substances Privileges,” is placed in front of you while the agent explains why you should sign it immediately, rather than face potential action to revoke your DEA and other adverse consequences. The DEA Agent tells you that you are already in deep, deep trouble (of a vague and unspecified nature), and that the simple act of signing this form can make your troubles go away and prevent federal action. Also, he tells you that all you have to do to get the number back is to reapply! Hold on...this is not the full story! This scenario is becoming a harsh reality and common situation for physicians, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and PAs. More >

Major Money Marked for Addiction Treatment in Kentucky

The Commonwealth of Kentucky has long suffered from a prescription drug abuse and methamphetamine problem, and heroin use has also been on the rise recently. As a result, more than $32 million is being set aside to help address the growing substance abuse problem in Kentucky. The much-needed funds are a result of settlements with two pharmaceutical companies, according to Attorney General Jack Conway. More >

Complying with KASPER, Part II

On Tuesday, I provided some common sense tips for prescribers to use when issuing a KASPER-regulated medication. Now, let’s take a look at how the prescriber can better understand the KASPER report.[1] More >

Complying with KASPER

The Kentucky General Assembly passed House Bill 1, also known as the “pill mill bill” in 2012. Following its enactment, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and various licensure boards issued regulations implementing its requirements. It was soon realized that the law would need some refinement to address concerns raised by the provider community and stakeholders. In 2013, House Bill 217 amended portions of House Bill 1 to address some unintended consequences of the original legislation. One of those amendments was giving an exemption to hospitals, long-term care facilities and approved researchers from the law’s requirement to report controlled substances administered directly to patients through the state’s description drug monitoring system, KASPER. However, for those licensees not exempt from the reporting, it remains a stringent requirement that a KASPER report is filed within one day of dispensing a controlled substance. (See more on HB 217 here.) More >

THE PERILS OF PRESCRIBING CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES

As the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure’s (“KBML”) implementing regulations for House Bill 1 are now effective on an emergency basis for the next six months, physicians, nurse practitioners, and other licensed prescribers have specific statutory and regulatory requirements establishing when and how they may prescribe controlled substances.  These rules must be followed or physicians and others may face serious consequences that include criminal misdemeanor offenses, loss of prescribing privileges, and disciplinary actions against professional licenses. All practitioners must pay careful attention to these rules because even minor violations may create problems. Because the KBML’s regulations are more comprehensive than the requirements of House Bill 1, a great deal of confusion exists concerning what physicians and practitioners are required to do and when. Recognizing that compliance with its emergency regulations may mean major changes in the way physicians practice medicine, the KBML has announced that it expects full compliance by October 1, which creates a welcome grace period.   While the ambiguities and details will be worked out over the course of the next six months, physicians should take heed and incorporate these things into their practices. More >

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