Governor Abbott Grants Waiver to Rule 217.24(e)(1) - March 23, 2020 (updated April 10, 2020 & May 8, 2020)
The Office of the Governor granted a waiver of the Texas Board of Nursing Rule
217.24(e)(1) that limits the APRN's ability to issue prescriptions for controlled substances for chronic pain via telemedicine. A waiver from this prohibition for refilling controlled substances for chronic pain patients evaluated via telemedicine was granted and is in effect until June 6, 2020. The waiver is only applicable to those APRNs whose delegating physicians agree to permit them to issue refills for these patients via telemedicine. The standard of care must be met, the APRN must exercise appropriate professional judgement, and all documentation requirements must be met. For APRNs, the waiver is limited to refills of controlled substances in schedules III through V. The waiver does not expand the APRN's authority to order or prescribe schedule II drugs.
