VIDEO: DEA helped create prescription issues when it reclassified drugs

REAL PATIENTS IN PAIN BEING DENIED MEDICATION IS THE PROBLEM WE’VE BEEN TELLING YOU ABOUT FOR OVER A MONTH. TONIGHT ONE OFFICIAL SAYS HE THINKS HE KNOWS WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. WESH 2’S MATT GRANT CONTINUES HIS INVESTIGATION. AS A FORMER PRO WRESTLER CHUCK AUSTIN IS USED TO FIGHTING BUT HIS BIGGEST FIGHT IS GETTING THE MEDICATION HIS DOCTOR SAYS HE NEEDS. I DON’T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM BUT I KNOW IT WASN’T PEOPLE LIKE ME. 25 YEARS AGO AUSTIN BROKE HIS NECK THE RING. HE SAYS HYDROCODONE IS THE ONLY THING THAT HELPS CONTROL HIS SPASMS AND GET OUT OF BED. I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET UP, ENJOY MY FAMILY, BE ABLE TO SEE MY LITTLE GRANDDAUGHTERS. AND ENJOY AS MUCH AS I CAN. BUT LIKE A LOT OF PATIENTS WE’VE TALKED TO, AUSTIN’S PHARMACIST IS NOW REFUSING TO FILL HIS HYDROCODONE. WE GET CALLS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WITH PEOPLE HAVING DIFFICULTY. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PAIN MANAGEMENT SPEAKING TO US ON SKYPE BLAMES THE DEA’S DECISION TO RECLASSIFY CERTAIN DRUGS FROM CLASS THREE TO MORE RESTRICTIVE CLASS TWO. A MOVE RECOMMENDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. I DO THINK THEY ARE SCHEDULING OF HYDROCONE DOEN WAS PART OF THIS PROBLEM YES. HE SAYS LAST YEAR’S DECISION TO RECLASSIFY DRUGS LIKE HYDROCODONE HAS MADE THEM HARDER TO GET. DOCTORS CAN ONLY WRITE PRESCRIPTION GORZ A MONTH WITH NO AUTOMATIC REFILLS. HE SAYS THE DEA IS PRESSURING WHOLESALEERS TO LIMIT SUPPLY. I THINK THEY’RE AFRAID IF THEY DON’T PUT LIMITATIONS ON THAT THEY’RE GOING GET IN TROUBLE WITH THE DEA. BUT THE DEA DENIES THAT. WE SET NO QUOTAS ON HOW MUCH A MANUFACTURING/DISTRIBUTOR CAN SEND TO A PHARMACY. THAT’S BETWEEN THEM. AND JUST TODAY THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION RESPONDED TO MY REQUEST FOR A STATEMENT ON THIS SAYING THEY ANTICIPATED THE DEA POLICY. HOWEVER, DESPITE THIS ADVANCED PLANNING ACCOMMODATING THE WORKLOAD AND TRYING TO MITIGATE THE INCONVENIENCE TO VET RAN HAS NOT HAS BEEN WITHOUT CHALLENGES. THEY’RE WORKING HARD TO ENSURE THE IMMRILTATION OF THIS NEW RULE THAT CHANGE IS DONE