AR SB505

Healthcare professionals must coprescribe an opioid antagonist (naloxone) when prescribing or dispensing opioids at 50+ morphine milligram equivalents (MME) per day, or when benzodiazepines are prescribed concurrently, or when patients have a history of opioid use disorder or drug overdose.

Healthcare professionals may decline to coprescribe if they document that it is not in the patient's best interest, following guidance from their licensing entity.

The Arkansas State Medical Board and State Board of Pharmacy must jointly develop guidance and rules within 6 months of the act's effective date addressing coprescribing requirements and patient counseling on overdose prevention.

All licensing entities that authorize opioid prescribing (nursing, dental, optometry, and podiatric medicine boards) must promulgate coprescribing guidance that is no less restrictive than the medical and pharmacy boards' standards.

The requirement does not apply to patients receiving hospice or end-of-life care, does not create private lawsuits against providers, and does not limit liability for failure to properly diagnose or treat patients.