The AAPA and the Vicodin/FDA controversy

[physasst]

By the way, the Academy did respond....today in their PA Professional Area. It seems not only are they aware, but have been for some time, and have been working to have it changed.....

 

 

Media Reports Misstate Impact on PAs from FDA Advisory Committee Recommendations on Prescribing Hydrocodone Products

 

2013-01-28

The New York Times and numerous other media outlets incorrectly stated on Jan. 25 that the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee recommended changes last week on prescribing hydrocodone products that would “ban nurse practitioners and physician assistants from prescribing the drugs, making it harder for people in underserved and rural areas.”

According to two PAs who serve on the FDA advisory committee, and are AAPA members, it recommended in a 19-10 vote to only reclassify hydrocodone from a Schedule III drug to Schedule II. The recommendation would not ban PAs, nurse practitioners, or optometrists from prescribing hydrocodone products. Rather, it would limit prescribing the drugs in states where PAs and other healthcare professionals are not authorized to prescribe Schedule II drugs. PAs may currently prescribe Schedule II medications in all but 14 states.

In a June 2012 letter to House and Senate conferees finalizing the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), AAPA recommended that a legislative proposal to reclassify hydrocodone products from Schedule III to Schedule II be eliminated from the legislation. AAPA acknowledged the serious problem of diversion and abuse of opioid drugs, as well as hydrocodone drugs. However, the Academy questioned whether limiting access to appropriate pain medication for patients with legitimate clinical need is the appropriate response. Additionally, other barriers are imposed on schedule II drugs, which can make access more difficult for some patients, such as the inability to phone in prescriptions or refill the prescription. This is what the advisory committee wrestled with in its deliberations.

The recommendation by the FDA Advisory Committee does not automatically mean that hydrocodone products will be moved to the schedule II classification or that FDA will agree to the advisory committee recommendation. If FDA were to move forward with the advisory committee’s recommendation, it would be subject to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regulatory process. The FDA briefing document from the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee may be reviewed online.

[Hemegroup]

Sad that the FDA don't care as much about GMO foods.

[burnpac]

Thanks for posting this physasst. Again, the AAPA has been on top of this for some time, and will continue to lobby this issue on behalf of profession and our patients.

[EMEDPA]

PAFT also responded with a letter to the editor of the ny times and a letter to NPR.

[SocialMedicine]

thank you for posting ! just saw this myself ... clears up alot of confusion. Nice move by the AAPA !