Amendment ID: S2020-39-R3

3rd Redraft Amendment 39

Partial fill of schedule II and III

Messrs. Tarr, deMacedo, Ross and Joyce, Mrs. L'Italien, Mr. Humason and Ms. Chang-Diaz move to amend the bill move to amend the bill move to amend the bill, in section 13,  by adding the following section:-

“Section 18C. Prior to issuing a prescription for an opioid contained in schedule II of section 3, a practitioner registered under section 7 shall: (i) consult with a the patient regarding the quantity of the opioid and a patient’s option to fill the prescription in a lesser quantity; and (ii) inform the patient of the risks associated with the opioid prescribed.”; and

by inserting after section 35 the following 2 sections:-

“Section 35A. Not more than 180 days following the effective date of this act, the board of registration in medicine and the respective boards of licensure for prescribers registered  under section 7 of chapter 94C of the General Laws shall promulgate  regulations that require a prescriber, prior to issuing a prescription for an opioid in schedule II of section 3 of said chapter 94C , to: (a) consult with a patient and  determine the lowest quantity of such opioid that can safely and effectively meet the needs presented by the patient in the prescriber’s medical judgment; (b) discuss a full spectrum of strategies to manage pain; and (c) explain, in lay terms, the rationale for the recommended prescription quantity and dosage.  The regulations shall also include appropriate licensing consequences for failure to adhere to the regulation.”

Section 35B. Not later than 180 days following the effective date of this act, the division of insurance shall develop and implement regulations providing that there shall be no financial penalty for a patient’s choice to receive a lesser quantity of an opioid contained in schedule II or III of section 3 of chapter 94C of the General Laws.”