WAC 246-817-955. Consultation — Exemptions for exigent and special circumstances

A dentist is not required to consult with a pain management specialist as described in WAC 246-817-965 when the dentist has documented adherence to all standards of practice as defined in WAC 246-817-919 through 246-817-967 and when one or more of the following conditions are met: (1) The patient is following a tapering schedule; (2) The patient requires treatment for acute pain, which may or may not include hospitalization, requiring a temporary escalation in opioid dosage with expected return to their baseline dosage level or below; (3) The dentist documents reasonable attempts to obtain a consultation with a pain management specialist and the circumstances justifying prescribing above one hundred twenty milligrams MED per day without first obtaining a consultation; or (4) The dentist documents the patient's pain and function is stable and the patient is on a nonescalating dosage of opioids.