AK HB268

Legislature finds that opioid prescription drugs are addictive, lead to heroin addiction, damage families and communities, increase crime, and create significant financial burden on the state.

Requires dentists, physicians, nurses, and optometrists to adopt regulations mandating providers advise patients orally and in writing of opioid addiction risks and alternative treatments before prescribing opioids.

Allows boards to exempt certain patient classes from opioid information requirement and to excuse unintentional or periodic accidental violations and violations made for good cause, including immediate emergency care situations.

Requires Department of Health and Social Services to post easily understandable written information about opioids, including their addictive and harmful qualities, on its website in printable format.

Boards of Dental Examiners, State Medical Board, Board of Nursing, and Board of Examiners in Optometry must implement required opioid information regulations by October 1, 2019.