Why Most Primary Care Physicians Do Not Prescribe MMJ Certifications

Why Most Primary Care Physicians Do Not Prescribe MMJ Certifications

According to a recent survey in the latest issue of Preventive Medicine, nearly 60 percent of US healthcare providers have a negative view of medical cannabis, and only 12 percent stated they had a positive view. Considering the growth in positive cultural and public opinion over the past two decades, this survey reveals an anticipated insight into the relationship between prescribers and medical cannabis.

The Scope of The Survey

The opinions collected for this survey involved a pool of nearly 1500 licensed clinicians contributing anonymously. Data from the study includes surveys from 2011 to 2017, and within the responses lies the obstacles faced by prescribers and clinicians. Here is a brief summary of what is making the majority of primary care physicians hesitant to prescribe medical cannabis for their patients.

Lack of Cannabis Education At Traditional Medical Schools

When students are training to be physicians, there are no programs in place for the proper prescription and care management for patients using medical cannabis. Moreover, the endocannabinoid system (ECS) isn’t part of the curriculum in most medical schools. This gap in learning seems to be one of the primary sources of hesitancy when it comes to primary care physicians writing scripts for medical cannabis.

State Licensing and Certification Requirements

The paperwork and background checks required to prescribe medical cannabis are extensive and time-consuming. Between taking classes, passing certification courses, and paying license fees, it is a headache few doctors want to deal with in addition to their current medical liability responsibilities.

Ambiguity of Federal Laws

Cannabis is still a schedule one drug according to federal law despite sixteen states legalizing its use. State laws do not supersede federal authority or drug enforcement agencies, and federal arrest and prosecution is a reality physicians must consider when deciding whether to prescribe cannabis.

Billing & Insurance Woes

The billing and personal health care software systems currently in place are not compatible with the current medical cannabis certification model and infrastructure. While some forward-thinking insurance companies are initiating changes to allow for easier prescription and billing of medical cannabis, that is proving to be the exception more so than the rule.

All in all, the historical mindset and stigma associated with medical cannabis, the ambiguity of U.S. Federal Laws, and the system incompatibility for prescribing and managing cannabis care are difficult obstacles to overcome. These facts with knowledge that Cannibus Medical Education simply did not exist as part of the education provided when todays Doctors were in training are what keeps most traditional Primary Care Physicians hesitant to get on board with medical cannabis.

Fortunately, forward-thinking medical centers such as Medwell Health and Wellness Centers has taken the time to assure Doctors are trained in the use of the benefits of Medical Marijuana (MMJ). In addition, the team at Medwell Health and Wellness Centers is constantly reviewing state laws pertaining to the use of MMJ and have designed their practice to accommodate all the practice processes to assure a patient has a positive experience and receives the help they need.

Medwell Health and Wellness is on the frontlines bringing MMJ Services to patients in need. An example of this is the recent initiative to allow for MMJ Telemedicine Appointments. Medwell Health and Wellness Centers started offering MMJ Telemedicine Appointments immediately.

If you have any questions on how MMJ Telemedicine works, please see our informational video below:

Telemedicine / On-Line Appointment