{"data":{"id":"us-va/18vac105-20-49","jurisdiction":"us-va","citation":"18VAC105-20-49","heading":"Prescribing an opioid for chronic pain","body":"If a TPA-certified optometrist treats a patient for whom an opioid prescription is necessary for chronic pain, he shall either:\n\n1. Refer the patient to a doctor of medicine or osteopathic medicine who is a pain management specialist; or\n\n2. Comply with regulations of the Board of Medicine, 18VAC85‑21‑60 through 18VAC85‑21‑120, if he chooses to manage the chronic pain with an opioid prescription.","path":["Title 18. Professional And Occupational Licensing","Agency 105. Board of Optometry","Chapter 20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Optometry"],"source_url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency105/chapter20/section49/","current_through":"2026 Regular Session (effective July 1, 2026)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T04:52:57Z","sha256":"938aeccd11f21b952f4617027e553081e558de169e1d1312a537f98d1149c93d","source_id":"us-va-vac","stale":false,"prev":"us-va/18vac105-20-48","next":"us-va/18vac105-20-51"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}