Which body governs the statutes and rules regarding pain management for chronic pain prescriptions?

• A. The Board
• B. FDA
• C. DEA
• D. Hospital policy

Answer: (A)

Pain management prescribing is governed by state-level professional licensing and regulatory bodies, which set the standards for how medications, including those for chronic pain, are prescribed and monitored. In Texas, the Board (the Texas Medical Board) is the entity that issues statutes and rules for medical practice, including chronic pain management and the prescribing of controlled substances. The FDA operates at the federal level, approving drugs and setting safety guidelines, but it does not dictate state prescriber rules. The DEA enforces federal controlled-substances laws, which complements but does not replace state board rules. Hospital policy is internal to a facility and cannot supersede state statutes or board rules. So the Board is the correct governing body for these prescribing rules.