On August 22, 2014, the DEA issued a final rule (79 FR 49661) in which they rescheduled hydrocodone combination products (HCPs) from schedule III to schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act as of October 6, 2014.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released an updated guidance and standard prior authorization (PA) form for medication coverage for hospice beneficiaries. It supersedes a guidance released on March 10, 2014 (but implemented on May 1, 2014).