FL S0840

Physicians licensed in Florida and registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration to prescribe controlled substances must complete a 2-hour continuing education course on opioid prescribing standards and addiction risks by December 31, 2017, with failure constituting grounds for disciplinary action.

Course completion becomes a mandatory condition for licensure renewal effective January 1, 2020, and may be offered in distance learning format while counting toward required continuing medical education hours.

Reporting deadline for controlled substance dispensing is reduced from 7 days to no later than the close of the next business day, effective January 1, 2018.

Reporting exemption for rehabilitative hospitals, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes is narrowed to apply only when patients are present and receiving care.

Employees of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs who prescribe controlled substances gain access to the prescription drug monitoring program database to review patients' controlled substance prescription histories.