The purpose of this policy is to ascertain that long-term controlled medications are prescribed in the safest, most effective manner in compliance with state and federal law. Utilization of controlled substances may be medically useful but, if used inappropriately, carries risks. In order to receive controlled medications from our office, please review the following policies.
All patients receiving prescriptions for controlled medications from our clinic are REQUIRED to:
- Have a yearly physical exam and bloodwork with their Primary Care Provider every year and provide the report to the office.
- Have a urine drug screen (UDS) at least once per year. Our providers may request UDS monitoring more often and/or at random depending on your history.
- Drug screens can be conducted at our office for $25 or at a laboratory of your choice.
- You may request an in-person appointment and complete your drug test prior to your appointment.
- Our purpose is to help you improve your health: the use of illegal drugs, certain prescription drugs, and other addictive substances/behaviors may need interventions and help. Certain controlled medications will be tapered or discontinued, if you have other problems that need treatment or stabilization. You may be refrred to other professionals if necessary.
- Medical Marijuana has been legalized in the State of Florida; however, we do not recommend the use of marijuana along with controlled substance medications for patients that are being treated for mental health disorders. Use of medical/recreational marijuana, while under contract, will be considered a violation of our controlled substance policy.
Additional policies and information:
- After initiation of treatment, the patient will follow up every 1-3 months prior to the writing of medication refills. More frequent visits may be required when medication dosage is being adjusted.
- Any request for refills or changes in prescribed medication will require an appointment to determine the appropriateness of medication changes and to issue any new prescriptions
- Refills of a controlled substance medication Will NOT be made if I “run out early." I am responsible for taking the medication as prescribed and for keeping track of the amount remaining.
- Early refill requests will not routinely be issued to accommodate out-of-town travel.
- If your pharmacy is out of stock, you are out of town, or are traveling, THE FIRST STEP IS TO CALL YOUR PHARMACY AND REQUEST YOUR MEDICATION BE TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER PHARAMCY. The only medications that cannot be transferred are stimulants for ADHD.
- Prescriptions will be sent to your pharmacy electronically only at the time of your appointment. You have the right to request paper prescriptions, so you can try to get your medications at different pharmacies if there is a shortage. There is a fee of $25 for any requests to change pharmacies, alter dosages, or formulation : example generic vs brand one etc. outside of appointments.
- In the event of electronic transmission failure, I understand that I may need to pick up a hard copy prescription from the office.
- If you frequently need to change pharmacies or use several pharmacies to find the best price, please ask the provider for a hard copy prescription, no prescriptions will be mailed. Additionally, you can request that your pharmacy transfer your prescription to a new pharmacy.
- I give permission to my primary care physician, prescribing physician and/or his colleagues to communicate with any other physician or health care provider and any pharmacists egarding my use of controlled substances.
- Patient is required to release Beaches Behavioral/ Beaches TMS & Brain Health from any liability related to their misuse of the controlled substance prescribed.
- I understand that allowances will not be made for lost, stolen or misplaced prescription or drugs. Any stolen prescription must be reported to the police and my provider immediately. A police report must be presented. Lost prescriptions must be reported to my provider within 24 hours