Law: Physical Exam Required

Features

Aspects of Feature

States

Type of examination required

"Physical examination" (may also include "in person" or its equivalent)

AL, AZ, AR, CT, DE, FL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MS, MO, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VT, VA, WI

"Appropriate examination" (or some approximation)

CA, KY, OK

Type of examination/evaluation is not specified

AK, CO, ID, MN, TX

Circumstances under which
examination is required                             

For all drugs or all controlled substances

AL, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, FL, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, MA, MS, MO, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV

Only for "pain management"

LA, NM, OH, TN, TX

For specific controlled substances, specific schedules, or to treat specific disorder

AK, CA, CO, DE, IN, KS, MI, MN, NV, NM, OH, OR, RI, TX, VT, VA, WI

Under other circumstances

KY, ND, RI, VA

Consequences of prescribing or
dispensing without a physical exam
or a practitioner-patient relationship

Constitutes unprofessional conduct punishable by licensing board

AL, AZ, CA, DE, MI, NV, NH, OH, OK, OR, SC, TN, WI

License/application will be revoked/rejected

FL, TN

Explicitly lists criminal liability

KY, LA, VA

Licensing board will report to the attorney general

AR

Role of the practitioner-patient relationship

Examination requirement is part of definition of practitioner-patient relationship

AK, AZ, AR, FL, ID, KY, LA, MS, MO, NV, NH, NM, OH, SC, VT, VA

Physical exam not necessary for previously established patient

AL, AK, AZ, MN, TN

Pharmacist may not dispense if reason to believe there is no practitioner-patient relationship

AL, CO, DC, FL, HI, ID, IL, IA, LA, MA, MS, MO, NH, NM, NC, OK, OR, TX, VA, WV

Patient may not seek to obtain controlled substance without valid practitioner-patient relationship

KY, NH

Practitioner-patient relationship is noted but undefined

AL, CO, CT, DC, DE, HI, IL, IA, MA, NC, OK, OR, TX, WV

Enumerates exceptions where
physical exam may not be necessary

 N/A

AL, AZ, AR, CA, IN, MN, NH, NM, NY, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV

Explicit provision dealing with
prescribing based solely on patient
questionnaire (or internet pharmacy)

  N/A

AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, ID, IA, LA, MS, MO, NH, NM, ND, OR, TN, TX, VA, WV

Time requirement

  N/A

NV, TX