SB1108 Summary

• Expands physician assistant authority to prescribe controlled substances, allowing 30-day prescriptions for opioids/benzodiazepines and 90-day prescriptions for other Schedule II-V controlled substances upon board certification.

• Modifies electronic prescription requirements for Schedule II opioids, establishing January 1, 2020 as the implementation date (previously set for January 1, 2019) and allowing written prescriptions when electronic systems are unavailable.

• Creates exceptions to electronic prescribing mandates for prescriptions from veterans administration facilities, military bases, Indian Health Services facilities, tribal clinics, and medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorders.

• Expands the computerized database tracking system task force to identify educational services for electronic prescribing adoption and consult on exceptions to electronic prescribing requirements.

• Applies changes to prescription order rules retroactively to December 31, 2018 and designates the act as an emergency measure effective immediately.