Law: Regulating Pain Clinics

What are Pain Clinic Laws?

So-called “pill mills” have been discussed widely in the media, and pain clinic regulations are designed to prevent these facilities from prescribing controlled substances indiscriminately or inappropriately. A law was included in this resource as a pain clinic regulation if it requires state oversight of pain management clinics or if it describes specific registration, licensure, or ownership requirements for pain management clinics. For example, it may specify operational and personnel requirements, inspection and complaint procedures, initial or annual renewal of license investigations, procedures for denial or revocation of licenses, health and safety requirements, standards of care, or patient billing procedures. A pain management clinic is generally defined as any facility that provides management services or employs a physician who is primarily engaged in the treatment of pain by prescribing or dispensing controlled substance medications. 

States with Pain Clinic Laws

3 states: Florida, Louisiana, Texas.

Features of Pain Clinic Laws by State

Features	Aspects of Feature	States
State oversight	Must register with state	FL
	Must be licensed (or certified) by state	LA, TX
	State must inspect	FL, LA
	State may Inspect	TX
	License is not transferable or assignable	LA, TX
	Board must investigate complaints	TX
	Board must promulgate rules and regulations for pain clinics and pain practitioners	FL, LA, TX
Ownership and operation	Must be owned and operated by practitioner certified in pain management	LA
	Must be owned and operated by a physician medical director	LA, TX
	May not have any relationship with a practitioner who has been disciplined for improper controlled substance dealings	LA, TX
	May not be owned in whole or in part by any person who has been convicted of a felony	LA, TX