Mass. Mitchell H. Tobin, JD AANA Director of State Government Affairs CRNAs are increasingly becoming involved in revisions to laws governing the prescription of drugs and controlled substances. In some instances, it is CRNAs seeking changes because their ability to administer anesthetics has been challenged. In other instances, amendments to these laws are sought by other nursing groups in efforts to expand or solidify their areas of practice.
Laws controlling prescription drugs are complex and easily misunderstood.
This column will, from time to time over the next few months, attempt to explore existing laws regulating prescriptive authority as well as some of the proposed changes to some of these laws. This month we will begin with federal laws governing prescriptive authority. Federal drug laws are, of course, applicable to all CRNAs. In addition, the federal Controlled Substances Act has served as a model for many state acts. If drugs are dispensed without a prescription, the drug will become misbranded, which triggers enforcement provisions under the Act.