Bill > H2060

This bill amends Chapter 94C of the General Laws concerning controlled substances, which are drugs that are regulated by the government due to their potential for abuse or addiction. Specifically, it establishes that written prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances, a category that includes potent painkillers like opioids, will become invalid 90 days after they are issued and cannot be refilled, requiring a new prescription for each dispensing. Pharmacists filling these prescriptions must sign them, and generally, no prescription for a Schedule II or III controlled substance can be filled for more than a 90-day supply at once, with exceptions for specific medications like dextroamphetamine sulfate and methylphenidate hydrochloride used for conditions like narcolepsy, which can be filled for up to a 60-day supply, and for implantable infusion pumps containing these substances, which can be filled for up to 90 days under specific regulations. All controlled substance prescriptions must be kept by the pharmacy for two years and be available for inspection. Refills are only permitted if the original prescription explicitly allows for them and specifies the number of refills. Prescriptions can be written, transmitted electronically with an electronic signature, and must be signed by the prescriber, with third-party intermediaries allowed to facilitate electronic transmission between the prescriber and pharmacy. Additionally, clinic pharmacies operated by health maintenance organizations can refill prescriptions from other such clinics if they verify the refill's appropriateness through a centralized database.