HB 7052 Summary

• Requires prescribing practitioners to electronically transmit controlled substance prescriptions to pharmacies, with limited exceptions for technological failures, out-of-state pharmacies, emergency situations, and compounded medications.

• Limits initial opioid prescriptions to seven days for adults and five days for minors for outpatient use, with exceptions for chronic pain, cancer-related pain, palliative care, and acute medical conditions as documented by the practitioner.

• Establishes a voluntary nonopioid directive form allowing patients to request no opioid prescriptions, with protections for practitioners who refuse opioids pursuant to such forms and exceptions for emergency departments with no knowledge of the directive.

• Authorizes pharmacists to dispense opioid antagonists (such as naloxone) under medical protocol standing orders to persons at risk of overdose or their family members and friends, with required training and record-keeping.

• Requires municipalities to ensure at least one emergency medical services provider is equipped with opioid antagonists and trained in their administration; mandates insurance coverage for medically necessary inpatient detoxification services for substance use disorder; and requires treatment facilities to use American Society of Addiction Medicine admission criteria.