OH HB699

Requires coroners to notify prescribers when a patient dies from a drug overdose, using the state drug database or contacting hospitals and health insurers if the prescriber cannot be identified.

Limits initial opioid prescriptions for acute pain to no more than three days, with patient reexamination required before additional opioids are prescribed.

Requires prescribers to evaluate patients for signs of drug abuse or addiction before initially prescribing opioids and at least annually thereafter, with health-related licensing boards establishing evaluation standards.

Requires pharmacists dispensing opioids for five or more days to discuss addiction risks with patients and receive a fee established by the medicaid director.

Establishes rules for medication-assisted treatment encouraging non-addicting alternatives, tapering of addicting treatments, and discouraging lifelong use except as a last resort; requires state medical board to monitor the drug database for suspicious prescribing activity by January 1, 2021.