STATE OF WISCONSIN
Medical Examining Board
IN THE MATTER OF RULEMAKING PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE
MEDICAL EXAMINING BOARD
PROPOSED ORDER OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINING BOARD
ADOPTING RULES
(CLEARINGHOUSE RULE )
PROPOSED ORDER
An order of the Medical Examining Board to amend Med 13.02 (1g) and (1r) and 13.03 (3) (b) 2. and to create Med 13.02 (1v) and 13.03 (3) (b) 2m., relating to continuing medical education for physicians.
Analysis prepared by the Department of Safety and Professional Services.
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ANALYSIS
Statutes interpreted:
Statutory authority:
Explanation of agency authority:
Section 15.08 (5) (b), Stats., provides an examining board “shall promulgate rules for its own guidance and for the guidance of the trade or profession to which it pertains. . .” Section 448.40 (1), Stats., provides the Medical Examining Board “may promulgate rules to carry out the purposes of this subchapter, including rules requiring the completion of continuing education, professional development, and maintenance of certification or performance improvement or continuing medical education programs for renewal of a license to practice medicine and surgery.” Related statute or rule:
None.
Plain language analysis:
Current rules require a physician who holds a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration number to complete 2 of the 30 required hours of continuing medical education from a Board-approved educational course or program related to the opioid prescribing guidelines issued by the Board. As this requirement expires after the renewal date occurring on November 1, 2019, the proposed rules define requirements for the completion of continuing education hours related to prescribing controlled substances for the renewal date occurring on November 1, 2021.
Summary of, and comparison with, existing or proposed federal regulation:
None.
Comparison with rules in adjacent states:
Illinois:
Rules of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation establish continuing medical education requirements for physicians licensed in Illinois (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1285.110). The rules do not require continuing education related to prescribing opioids.
Iowa:
Rules of the Iowa Board of Medicine establish continuing education requirements for physicians licensed in Iowa (653 IAC 11). The rules require a licensee who regularly provides primary health care to patients in Iowa to complete at least two hours of credit for chronic pain management every five years. “A licensee who regularly provides primary health care to patients” means all emergency physicians, family physicians, general practice physicians, internists, neurologists, pain medicine specialists, psychiatrists, and any other physician who regularly provides primary health care to patients [653 IAC 11.4(1) d. (1)].
Michigan:
Rules of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs establish continuing medical education requirements for physicians licensed in Michigan (Mich Admin Code, R 338.2441 to R 338.2443). The rules require a minimum of 3 hours of continuing education to be earned in the area of pain and symptom management (Mich Admin Code, R 338.2443). Continuing education hours in pain and symptom management may include any of the following:
- Public health burden of pain.
- Ethics and health policy related to pain.
- Michigan pain and controlled substance laws.
- Pain definitions.
- Basic sciences related to pain including pharmacology.
- Clinical sciences related to pain.
- Specific pain conditions.
- Clinical physician communication related to pain.
- Management of pain, including evaluation and treatment and nonpharmacological and pharmacological management.
- Ensuring quality pain care.
