Bill > H3817

This bill aims to enhance substance use treatment, education, and prevention by implementing several key provisions. It mandates that various professional licensing boards require practitioners to complete at least 5 hours of training on substance use topics every two years, with certification required at renewal. For prescriptions, it limits initial opiate prescriptions to a 72-hour supply unless a longer duration is medically necessary for an emergency, which must be documented, and allows for exceptions through public health regulations. The bill also requires practitioners to use the prescription monitoring program before prescribing opiates and expands educational efforts within existing programs to include information on the dangers of opioid use and misuse for participants, parents, students, and staff. Furthermore, it updates terminology to refer to individuals with "alcohol or substance use disorder" and modifies procedures for involuntary commitment to treatment facilities, including provisions for secure facilities and voluntary treatment options, with new sections detailing emergency restraint and voluntary admission processes. Finally, it requires health insurance carriers (referred to as "carriers") to annually attest to their opioid management policies, including prior authorization, education, and coverage for alternative pain management, and mandates the development of a transportation plan for recovery high schools to ensure student access.