HB 243 - Strengthen Opioid Misuse Prevention Act Summary

• Extends standing orders for opioid antagonist (naloxone) prescriptions to community health groups, local health departments, law enforcement agencies, and organizations addressing substance use disorders for distribution to at-risk individuals.

• Requires physician assistants and nurse practitioners to personally consult with supervising physicians before prescribing targeted controlled substances for pain management for more than 30 days, with reconsultation every 90 days.

• Mandates electronic prescribing of Schedule II and III controlled substances (with limited exceptions) effective January 1, 2020, and limits initial acute pain prescriptions to 5-day supply (7 days for post-operative pain).

• Establishes civil penalties up to $500 per violation (maximum $5,000 annually) against pharmacies employing dispensers who fail to properly report controlled substance data; requires mandatory dispenser registration and practitioner/dispenser use of the Controlled Substances Reporting System.

• Creates a special revenue fund for Controlled Substances Reporting System operations and mandates annual reports to the General Assembly on targeted controlled substances data including demographics, prescription statistics, and practitioner categories.