Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has laid out new restrictions for the use of Zohydro, a powerful new painkiller, after a federal judge ruled earlier this month that his attempt at an outright ban was unconstitutional.
The governor's office said Tuesday that the state will now require doctors to complete a risk assessment and pain management treatment agreement before prescribing any extended-release medication that contains only hydrocodone and is "not in abuse-deterrent form."
The announcement comes after a federal judge prevented the state from enforcing Patrick's outright ban of Zohydro. In her decision last week, U.S. District Judge Rya Zobel said federal law pre-empted the governor's executive order because the Food and Drug Administration had already approved the drug's use.
Tuesday was the deadline for the state to appeal Zobel's decision.
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