As the Director of the PA Program at James Madison University, I strongly support the removal of the current requirement that a patient care team physician’s name be included on prescriptions for Schedule II-V medications.  PAs already have prescriptive authority at the state level via licensure, are registered with the DEA federally, and have a practice agreement locally.  Requiring a physician name on a script serves no meaningful purpose.  On the contrary, the rule in fact delays patient care when pharmacists are made to contact PA prescribers when the physician’s name is missing, mostly due to incapable EMR systems.  At best, this rule creates some level of unintentional non-compliance.  And at worst, it is completely illogical and administratively burdensome.

Sincerely,

Jerry Weniger, PhD, PA-C

Director, PA Program

James Madison University