Law: Doctor Shopping

Features

Aspects of Feature

States

General Law

Includes only language from Uniform Controlled Substance Act prohibiting obtaining/acquiring a controlled substance through “misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge”

AK, DC, DE, IL, LA, MI, MN, MS, NE, NV, NJ, ND, OR, SD, TX, UT, WV, WY

Includes additional language prohibiting non-disclosure using broad “non-disclosure” or “concealment” or “withholding” of “material fact” or "information" reference (similar to Uniform Narcotics Act)

AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, HI, GA, ID, IN, IA, KY, MD, MA, MO, MT, NH, NM, NY, NC, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, VT, VA, WA, WI

Prohibits "deceit" or "deception," but does not follow Uniform Substances Act or Uniform Narcotics Act

ME, OH

Specific

Note: Specific language may be completely separate from general language, listed alongside general language, or provided as one example of a situation covered by general language

Prohibits nondisclosure or withholding of information regarding other or prior treatment, visits, or prescriptions when a patient is seeking or accepting drugs from another practitioner

CT, FL, GA, HI, LA, ME, NV, NH, NY, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, WV, WY

Lists details that must be disclosed (such as name of substance, date of prescription, amount, refills, etc.)

ME

Applies to drugs with the same or similar therapeutic use

FL, GA, SC, SD, TN, WV, WY

Establishes a specific timeframe during which the prescription was to be taken

FL, GA, LA, ME, SD, TN, WY

A violation only occurs if the total quantity of drugs prescribed exceeds what a single practitioner would prescribe for the same time period and would not be for a legitimate medical purpose

HI

Information communicated will not be privileged (for either general or specific laws)

 N/A

AK, AR, CO, CT, HI, ID, IN, IA, KY, ME, MD, MO, NH, OK, RI, VT, WA, WI