![](https://www.gpb.org/sites/default/files/styles/flexheight/public/news/images/body/2014/08/10/pills_dimshik_stockxchng_h_0.jpg?itok=-4bvvX9E)
Section Branding
Header Content
House Approves Pain Clinic Rules
Primary Content
![](https://www.gpb.org/sites/default/files/styles/flexheight/public/news/images/body/2014/08/10/pills_dimshik_stockxchng_h_0.jpg?itok=-4bvvX9E)
The Georgia House of Representatives has approved a proposal that calls for the state to license and regulate businesses that call themselves pain management clinics.
House Bill 178 is a response to a flood of so-called 'pill mills' that are credited with feeding prescription drug abuse. The 150-15 vote sends the measure to the Senate, where similar legislation died last year.
A pain clinic is defined in the bill as a practice where at least half of the patient population is being treated for chronic pain. Those businesses would have to get a state license beginning in July. Licenses would have to be renewed every two years.
More significantly, the proposal would require that all new pain clinics be owned by physicians.
Tags: pill mills, pain clinic, 2013 general assembly
Bottom Content
![GPB](/sites/default/files/styles/three_two_702x468/public/2020-06/gpb.jpg?h=f5007b8c&itok=I2YtKsVu)