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2017 SESSION

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HB 1885 Opioids; limit on amount prescribed, extends sunset provision.

Introduced by: Timothy D. Hugo | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS ENACTED WITH GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION:

Limits on prescription of controlled substances containing opioids. Requires a prescriber registered with the Prescription Monitoring Program (the Program) to request information about a patient from the Program upon initiating a new course of treatment that includes the prescribing of opioids anticipated, at the onset of treatment, to last more than seven consecutive days and exempts the prescriber from this requirement if the opioid is prescribed as part of treatment for a surgical or invasive procedure and such prescription is for no more than 14 consecutive days. Current law requires a registered prescriber to request information about a patient from the Program upon initiating a new course of treatment that includes the prescribing of opioids anticipated, at the onset of treatment, to last more than 14 consecutive days and exempts the prescriber from this requirement if the opioid is prescribed as part of a course of treatment for a surgical or invasive procedure and such prescription is not refillable. The bill extends the sunset for this requirement from July 1, 2019, to July 1, 2022.

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

Limits on prescription of controlled substances containing opioids. Requires a prescriber registered with the Prescription Monitoring Program (the Program) to request information about a patient from the Program upon initiating a new course of treatment that includes the prescribing of opioids anticipated, at the onset of treatment, to last more than seven consecutive days and exempts the prescriber from this requirement if the opioid is prescribed as part of treatment for a surgical or invasive procedure and such prescription is for no more than 14 consecutive days. Current law requires a registered prescriber to request information about a patient from the Program upon initiating a new course of treatment that includes the prescribing of opioids anticipated, at the onset of treatment, to last more than 14 consecutive days and exempts the prescriber from this requirement if the opioid is prescribed as part of a course of treatment for a surgical or invasive procedure and such prescription is not refillable. The bill extends the sunset for this requirement from July 1, 2019, to July 1, 2022.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Prescription of opioids; limits. Provides that a prescriber who prescribes a controlled substance containing an opioid to a patient shall not prescribe an amount greater than a seven-day supply unless (i) in the professional medical judgment of the prescriber, more than a seven-day supply of the controlled substance containing an opioid is required to stabilize the patient's acute medical condition, or (ii) the prescription is for the management of pain associated with cancer, use in palliative or hospice care, or management of chronic pain not associated with cancer. The bill also requires a prescriber to obtain information from the Prescription Monitoring Program at the time of initiating a new course of treatment that includes the prescribing of opioids anticipated to last more than seven consecutive days. Currently, a prescriber must request such information when a course of opioid treatment is expected to last more than 14 consecutive days.