Evidence status: CURRENT STATE MONITORING FRAMEWORK. New Jersey layers recurring clinical review, Prescription Monitoring Program review, agreement monitoring, and urine screening onto the chronic-pain agreement requirement.
Three-month treatment review
When controlled dangerous substances are continuously prescribed for chronic pain, the practitioner must review the course of treatment and progress toward treatment objectives at least every three months and document that review.
Assessment before renewal
The practitioner must assess the patient before each renewal for problems associated with physical or psychological dependence and document the assessment.
Prescription Monitoring Program
New Jersey’s Prescription Monitoring Program framework requires recurring PMP review while a patient continues to receive covered Schedule II controlled dangerous substances, opioid medication for acute or chronic pain, or covered benzodiazepines. The Division of Consumer Affairs describes quarterly review during continuing treatment.
Agreement compliance
The practitioner must monitor compliance with the pain management agreement and any recommendation for referral. Relevant breaches, including evidence that medication is not being taken as prescribed or that illicit or undisclosed prescribed drugs are being used, are to be discussed with the patient and the resulting plan documented.
Urine screening
The Board’s chronic-pain rule requires random urine screening at least once every 12 months during continuous chronic-pain prescribing.
Referral and treatment objectives
When treatment objectives are not being met, the practitioner must reassess the treatment strategy and may need independent pain-management or addiction evaluation or treatment.
Keep these layers separate
| Layer | Classification |
|---|---|
| Pain management agreement | Binding state requirement before ongoing covered chronic-pain treatment. |
| Three-month clinical review | Separate recurring state duty. |
| PMP review | Separate Prescription Monitoring Program duty. |
| Annual random urine screen | Separate monitoring minimum during covered continuous chronic-pain prescribing. |
| Clinic-specific pill-count timing, one-pharmacy rules, refill deadlines, or dismissal terms | Practice-specific unless independently required by another authority. |
Sources
- Board of Medical Examiners — Prescribing for Pain FAQ
- New Jersey Prescription Monitoring Program
- P.L. 2021, c.54
Reviewed: October 4, 2026.