SB 18-022

Senate Bill 18-022, also known as the Clinical Practice for Opioid Prescribing bill, limits how many opioid painkillers doctors and other healthcare providers can initially prescribe to a patient to no more than a seven-day supply. However, practitioners have discretion to provide an additional seven days of medication if they believe it's necessary based on specific conditions like chronic pain or cancer-related pain. The law also requires healthcare providers to check a prescription drug monitoring program before prescribing the second week of opioids unless certain exceptions apply. This bill is now signed into law and will be in effect until September 1, 2021, when the restrictions are set to end.

Official Summary

Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Interim Study Committee. The bill restricts the number of opioid pills that a health care practitioner, including physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists, and veterinarians, may prescribe for an initial prescription to a seven-day supply and allows each health care practitioner to exercise discretion to include a second fill for a seven-day supply, unless, in the judgment of the practitioner, the patient: Has chronic pain that typically lasts longer than 90 days or past the time of normal healing, as determined by the podiatrist, or following transfer of care from another podiatrist who prescribed an opioid to the patient; Has been diagnosed with cancer and is experiencing cancer-related pain; or Is experiencing post-surgical pain that, because of the nature of the procedure, is expected to last more than 14 days. Additionally, an advanced practice nurse may prescribe a refill if the patient is undergoing palliative or hospice care. The restrictions repeal on September 1, 2021. Current law allows health care practitioners and other individuals to query the prescription drug monitoring program (program). The bill requires health care practitioners to indicate his or her specialty or practice area upon the initial query and to query the program prior to prescribing the second fill for an opioid unless the person receiving the prescription meets certain requirements. The bill requires the department of public health and environment to report to the general assembly its findings from studies regarding the prescription drug monitoring program conducted pursuant to a federal grant program. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

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