Bill > S0458

This bill aims to address the opioid crisis by implementing several key provisions: 1. It limits initial opioid prescriptions for acute pain to a 7-day supply, with exceptions for hospice, cancer, and chronic non-malignant pain patients. Subsequent prescriptions are limited to 30-day supplies. 2. It requires healthcare practitioners authorized to prescribe controlled substances to complete a 2-hour continuing education course on current standards and risks of prescribing controlled substances, as a condition of initial licensure and biennial renewal. 3. It mandates that before prescribing certain controlled substances, practitioners must access the patient's prescription drug history in the state's prescription drug monitoring program database, initially and at least every 90 days thereafter if continuing the same medication. The bill aims to strike a balance between ensuring appropriate pain management and mitigating the risks of opioid addiction and abuse, through education, prescription limits, and monitoring requirements for healthcare providers.

Health and Social Services

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2018/458