Bill > A01317

This bill amends the New York Public Health Law to allow healthcare practitioners more flexibility in prescribing controlled substances during emergencies. Currently, prescriptions for controlled substances are typically limited to a thirty-day supply, with some exceptions for specific conditions. The proposed change would permit practitioners to issue prescriptions for more than a thirty-day supply during an emergency that interferes with patients' ability to obtain prescription drugs from pharmacies. To do this, the practitioner must follow a written treatment plan that adheres to nationally recognized professional or governmental guidelines, and document this plan in the patient's medical record. This provision aims to ensure patients have continued access to necessary medications during challenging circumstances, such as natural disasters, public health crises, or other emergencies that might disrupt normal pharmacy operations. The bill provides a temporary, emergency-specific exemption to the standard thirty-day supply restriction, giving healthcare providers additional discretion to meet patient needs during exceptional situations.

Health and Social Services

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A1317