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Bill > H4062

MA H4062

MA H4062
Relative to benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine hypnotics

summary

Introduced
03/03/2016
In Committee
03/07/2016
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
07/31/2016

Introduced Session

189th General Court

Bill Summary

Relative to benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine hypnotics. Mental Health and Substance Abuse.

AI Summary

This bill establishes new regulations for benzodiazepines, which are drugs containing a specific chemical structure (a benzene ring fused to a diazepine ring) used to treat conditions like insomnia, anxiety, and convulsions, and non-benzodiazepine hypnotics, which are drugs that act similarly to benzodiazepines and are primarily used to treat insomnia. The bill mandates that the Department of Public Health create guidelines for safely discontinuing these medications and managing withdrawal symptoms, without forcing patients to stop their prescriptions. It also requires pharmacists to include a bolded, boxed cautionary statement on prescription labels about the risks of long-term use and to distribute pamphlets to consumers detailing potential misuse, addiction risks, proper storage, disposal, and available support resources. Furthermore, prescriptions for these drugs for less than a 10-day supply cannot be refilled, and all prescriptions must be on brightly colored paper with a warning about dependency and addiction. Finally, healthcare providers must obtain written informed consent from patients before prescribing these medications, using a form designed for easy understanding that outlines the risks of misuse, addiction, and long-term use.

Committee Categories

Health and Social Services

Sponsors (47)

Paul McMurtry (D)*,  Brian Ashe (D),  Gailanne Cariddi (D),  Evandro Carvalho (D),  Edward Coppinger (D),  Claire Cronin (D),  Angelo D'Emilia (R),  Michael Day (D),  Sal DiDomenico (D),  Paul Donato (D),  Eileen Donoghue (D),  Michelle DuBois (D),  James Dwyer (D),  Carolyn Dykema (D),  Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D),  John Fernandes (D),  Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D),  Carole Fiola (D),  Sean Garballey (D),  Denise Garlick (D),  Paul Heroux (D),  Steven Howitt (R),  Dan Hunt (D),  Pat Jehlen (D),  Peter Kocot (D),  Robert Koczera (D),  Barbara L'Italien (D),  David Linsky (D),  James Lyons (R),  Timothy Madden (D),  Mike Moore (D),  Frank Moran (D),  Dave Muradian (R),  Shaunna O'Connell (R),  Smitty Pignatelli (D),  Elizabeth Poirier (R),  Dave Rogers (D),  John Rogers (D),  Jeff Roy (D),  Mike Rush (D),  Danny Ryan (D),  Alan Silvia (D),  Bruce Tarr (R),  Walter Timilty (D),  Steve Ultrino (D),  RoseLee Vincent (D),  Chris Walsh (D), 

Last Action

Accompanied a study order, see H4662 (on 09/29/2016)
(1 Companion Bills)

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Document Type Source Location Created
State Bill Page https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/H4062 03/15/2016
Bill https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/H4062.pdf 03/15/2016
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