Evidence status: CURRENT STATE MONITORING FRAMEWORK. New Mexico’s chronic-pain rule layers recurring clinical review, urine testing, Prescription Monitoring Program review, and overdose-prevention requirements onto the written-agreement mandate.
Six-month chronic-pain review
16.10.14.9 requires the practitioner to review the course of chronic-pain treatment, the patient’s state of health, and new information about the cause of pain at least every six months.
Urine drug testing
When opioids are prescribed for chronic pain, urine drug testing is required when opioid therapy begins and at least every six months thereafter. Testing is used to assess prescribed medications, other controlled prescription drugs, and illicit drugs.
Prescription Monitoring Program
16.10.14.8 requires Medical Board licensees with applicable DEA and New Mexico controlled-substance registrations to participate in the Prescription Monitoring Program. The rule directs prescribers to identify prescribing-risk patterns and respond using professional judgment, including counseling, naloxone, consultation, or substance-use treatment when appropriate.
Overdose-prevention layer
Under 16.10.14.13, Medical Board licensees prescribing opioid analgesics must advise patients about overdose risk and opioid antagonists. When an opioid analgesic prescription is for at least a five-day supply, the rule requires co-prescribing an opioid antagonist together with written administration information.
Keep the layers separate
| Layer | Classification |
|---|---|
| Written treatment agreement | Binding chronic-pain requirement. |
| At-least-six-month treatment review | Separate monitoring duty. |
| Baseline and at-least-six-month urine testing | Separate opioid-monitoring duty. |
| PMP review and risk response | Separate controlled-substance monitoring duty. |
| Clinic pill-count deadlines or discharge rules | Practice terms unless independently required. |
Primary source
Reviewed: October 4, 2026.