Under IC 4-22-2-24, notice is hereby given that on June 23, 2016, at 2:00 p.m., local time, at the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, Indiana Government Center South, 402 West Washington Street, Room W064, Indianapolis, Indiana, the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana will hold a public hearing to create 844 IAC 2.2-3 to establish requirements for the prescribing of opioid controlled substances for pain management by physician assistants.

An analysis of the Medical Board's opioid prescribing rule in 2014 estimated that the first year cost per practitioner would range between $769 and $2,050 depending on how the universe of patients is defined, how the population of practitioners is identified, and current practices when prescribing controlled substances. The ongoing annual cost was estimated at $594-$1,953. The majority of the initial costs were related to preparation work needed to standardize documentation and processes. The distributed costs per patient were estimated at $53.60-$199.73 for the first year and $41.41-$190.24 thereafter. There are approximately 320 physician assistants, who, based on their current prescribing practices, would need to meet the requirements of this rule. Assuming this number of practitioners affected, the total first year estimated cost using these estimates would be $246,000-$656,000, and the ongoing cost would be $190,000-$625,000.

The majority of the professional costs would be recouped via patient billing, insurance claims, and others in the payer community. The patient costs would generally be covered by a variety of health plans and a diffuse payer base.

Copies of these rules are now on file at the Indiana Government Center South, 402 West Washington Street, Room W072 and Legislative Services Agency, Indiana Government Center North, 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N201, Indianapolis, Indiana and are open for public inspection.