No, not anymore, they don't. I've never, thank God, found myself riding THAT particular train but as is usual with government, they swing from one extreme to another. I know a couple of people who were long-term pain patients who were completely cut off by their GP and sent to a "Pain Specialist". Usually, these are anesthesiologists (MD) who've lost their jobs to nurse-anesthetists who will work for about 1/2 to 2/3 as much while doing the same job.
They basically prescribe the pain meds that the DEA is cracking down on other physicians for prescribing, while also being forced to treat every patient that comes through their door as an addict. Spot blood draws and urinalysis on demand are de rigueur. Often, they make these patients bring their pill bottles with them to PROVE they've not taken more than is prescribed. At some point, I suspect they'll require them to be injected with a tracker that can be followed in real-time to catch anyone who may be abusing. IF they catch someone doing anything that isn't exactly as prescribed they are just cut loose and it's up to them to try to find another pain doctor. Nice, huh?
This doesn't stop any significant number of addicts but it DOES cause lots of new ones who never were addicted before but now cannot deal with the pain, to go to the street for relief.
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