County Commissioners voted for an amendment to more closely monitor pain management clinics. (The Herald/Joe King)

In an effort to more closely monitor pain management clinics in hopes of preventing would-be prescription abusers from adding to area drug problems, the Sevier County Board of Commission passed a revised version of Senate Bill NO. 258 at the May 21 board meeting.

The bill legislates each clinic must be certified separately and must post the certification in a location so it is clearly visible to patients.

While the bill does enact other regulations such as barring anybody convicted of a felony from being either whole or part owner and no longer allowing clinics to accept cash for payment for services preformed at the clinic, perhaps the most significant portion of the bill has to do with location.

At the meeting the Article 506.2 was amended to include a Pain Clinic permitted for use only in a C-2 zone or a general commercial district.

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