State SealARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES


 

HB 2549: controlled substances; dosage limit

PRIME SPONSOR: Representative Carter, LD 15

BILL STATUS: Chaptered

               

Legend:
ADHS – Arizona Department of Health Services
MME – Morphine Milligram Equivalent
Amendments – BOLD and Stricken (Committee)

Abstract

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes)	     ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes)      ☐ Emergency (40 votes)	☐ Fiscal NoteRelating to prescriptions and dosage limitations.

Provisions

1.       Includes an available opioid assistance and referral call service that is designated by ADHS as an option to be used when a physician must do a consultation regarding the issuance of a prescription that exceeds 90 MMEs per day.

a.       Contains a retroactive date of April 26, 2018. (Sec. 10, 13)

2.       Permits the Arizona Poison Control System to provide statewide opioid assistance and referral resources through a toll-free telephone service. (Sec. 12, 13)

3.       Allows a health professional to issue a prescription that exceeds 90 MMEs if the consulting physician who is board-certified in pain or an opioid call service agrees with the higher dose.

a.       Contains a retroactive date of April 26, 2018. (Sec. 10, 13)

4.       Clarifies that the 90 MME limitation applies to prescriptions, rather than prescription orders. (Sec. 10)

5.       Exempts prescriptions capped at a 14-day supply that are issued following a surgical procedure from the 90 MME per day limitation.

a.       Contains a retroactive date of April 26, 2018. (Sec. 10, 13)

6.       Clarifies that the 90 MME limit applies to prescriptions that are filled or dispensed outside of a health care institution.

a.       Contains a retroactive date of April 26, 2018. (Sec. 10, 13)

7.       States that a health care institution, private office or clinic must apply to ADHS for licensure as a pain clinic within 60 days of meeting the statutory definition of a pain clinic. (Sec. 11)

8.       Allows a nurse practitioner with advanced pain certification to act as a medical director of a pain clinic. (Sec. 11)

9.       Prohibits a naturopathic physician from dispensing opioids and classifies a violation as unprofessional conduct. (Sec. 3, 4)

10.   Exempts implantable devices dispensed by an allopathic or osteopathic physician, physician assistant, certified nurse midwife or nurse practitioner from the prohibition against dispensing controlled substances.

a.       Contains a retroactive date of April 26, 2018. (Sec. 1, 2, 5-9, 13)

11.   Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 3, 4, 10)

 

 

Current Law

New prescription orders for opioids are prohibited from containing more than 90 MMEs per day. Exemptions from the 90 MME per day limitation are provided for specified individuals and continuations of an existing prescription that was issued within the last 60 days.  If a health professionals determines that a prescription containing more than 90 MMEs is necessary, the health professional must consult with an allopathic or osteopathic physician who is board-certified in pain (A.R.S. § 32-3248.01 as added by Laws 2018, First Special Session, Chapter 1, Section 29).

 

 

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Fifty-third Legislature                  HB 2549

Second Regular Session                               Version 5: Chaptered

 

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