New Legislation Regarding Opioid Prescriptions

Dr. Larry Koch, Medical Director, shares an important new Substitute House Bill 5053 that went into effect on July 1st, 2016. The entire bill is attached for your review.

Section 7 (8) (b) (c) and (d) detail the new restrictions on opioid prescriptions.

In summary, this act prohibits a prescribing practitioner from issuing a prescription for more than a seven day supply to:

• An adult for the first time for outpatient use
• A minor at any time

The law allows for an opioid prescription for more than seven days if, in the prescriber’s medical judgment, a supply is needed to treat a medical condition. In such circumstances, the prescriber must document the condition in the patient’s medical record and that an alternative to the opioid drug was not appropriate to address the medical condition.

AN ACT CONCERNING OPIOIDS AND ACCESS TO OVERDOSE REVERSAL DRUGS – Public Act 16-43 2016