SF3566 Summary

• Expands the definition of intractable pain to explicitly include noncancer pain, rare diseases, orphan diseases, severe injuries, and conditions requiring palliative or hospice care.

• Allows physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician assistants to prescribe Schedule II-V controlled substances for intractable pain without fear of disciplinary action if they follow proper evaluation and documentation procedures.

• Prohibits practitioners from being subject to civil, criminal, or administrative action for prescribing dosages that exceed morphine milligram equivalent guidelines if the patient is stable, compliant, and experiencing no serious harm.

• Prevents practitioners from tapering a patient's medication dosage solely to meet predetermined morphine milligram equivalent thresholds if the patient meets specified stability and compliance criteria.

• Requires practitioners to enter into written patient-provider agreements that document expectations, responsibilities, and rights, with annual review and updates as needed, except in emergency or inpatient hospital settings.