SENATE DOCKET, NO. 187        FILED ON: 1/22/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1299

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Edward J. Kennedy

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to enhance patient education and informed consent before issuance of opioids.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Edward J. Kennedy

First Middlesex


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 187        FILED ON: 1/22/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1299

By Mr. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1299) of Edward J. Kennedy for legislation to enhance patient education and informed consent before issuance of opioids.  Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

_______________

 

An Act to enhance patient education and informed consent before issuance of opioids.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. MGL  94C sec 18A (b) of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding, in the first sentence after the word “department” the following: and the agreement shall also address alternative forms of care that could be used instead of opioids, specifically including chiropractic. The department shall consult with the Massachusetts Chiropractic Society in developing those guidelines, in order to insure that those guidelines are consistent with CDC guidelines and include the recommendation of CDC that nonpharmacological therapy and non-opioid pharmacologic therapy are preferred for chronic pain including chiropractic.

SECTION 2. MGL 94C Sec 18C of the General Laws is hereby amended by deleting subsection (ii) and adding in its place the following “(ii) inform the patient of the risks, including the percentage of risk of addiction as set forth by the Center for Disease Control, and the expected benefits associated with the opioid prescribed and the risks and benefits of non-opioid and non-pharmacologic therapies, including chiropractic.”