Practitioners and Prescriptive Authority

Excerpt

Prescriptive authority is the ability of healthcare providers to prescribe specific medications, including controlled substances. Physicians holding either a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) designation have the highest degree of prescriptive authority. MD and DO clinicians are authorized to prescribe medications, including controlled substances. Additionally, physicians can prescribe Schedule II to V medications with a valid Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration. Other healthcare providers also have varying degrees of autonomy to prescribe drugs, but must undergo physician supervision or delegation. This article will discuss the increasing prescriptive authority of advanced practice providers and the overlapping role of physicians.