CS for SB 8 - Controlled Substances Summary

• Prohibits managed care plans and health insurers from imposing prior authorization or step therapy requirements on medication-assisted treatment (MAT) services for substance abuse disorders.

• Requires prescribers authorized to prescribe controlled substances to complete a 2-hour continuing education course on controlled substance prescribing by January 31, 2019, and at each subsequent license renewal.

• Limits opioid prescriptions for acute pain to a 3-day supply, with exceptions allowing up to 7-day supplies if the prescriber documents medical necessity and marks the prescription accordingly.

• Establishes new pain management clinic certification of exemption requirements and updates the prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) with enhanced reporting timelines, direct access provisions for prescribers and dispensers, and a direct-support organization to assist with program operations.

• Adds new controlled substances (including remifentanil, tapentadol, and thiafentanil) to Schedule II and updates the controlled substances schedule to align with federal law; appropriates $42.555 million in recurring and nonrecurring funds for substance abuse treatment services.