HLS 16RS-858 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 791
BY REPRESENTATIVE MORENO
DRUGS/CONTROLLED: Provides limitations on prescriptions for opioid drugs
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 40:978(F) and to enact R.S. 40:978(G) and (H), relative to
3 opioids; to limit initial prescriptions to a seventy-two hour supply; to require review
4 of prescription monitoring information; to require education; and to provide for
5 related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 40:978(F) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 40:978(G) and
8(H) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 §978. Prescriptions; limitations; education
10 * * *
11 F. A prescriber shall access the Prescription Monitoring Program prior to
12 initially prescribing any opioid or Schedule II controlled dangerous substance to a
13 patient for the treatment of non-cancer-related chronic or intractable pain.
14 G.(1) Except as provided in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, a medical
15 practitioner shall not issue a prescription for more than a seventy-two hour supply
16 of an opioid to a patient the first time the practitioner prescribes an opioid to that
17 patient.
18 (2) If in the professional medical judgment of a medical practitioner, more
19 than a seventy-two hour supply of an opioid is required to stabilize a patient’s
20 emergency medical condition, then the practitioner may issue a prescription for the
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 16RS-858 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 791
1 quantity needed to stabilize the patient’s emergency medical condition. The
2 emergency medical condition shall be documented in the patient’s medical record
3 and the practitioner shall indicate that a nonopioid alternative was not appropriate
4 to address the emergency medical condition.
5 H. Any medical practitioner who prescribes controlled substances pursuant
6 to this Section shall complete at least five hours of training every two years on the
7 risks of addiction associated with medications prescribed for pain management.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 791 Original 2016 Regular Session Moreno
Abstract: Limits the supply of opioids for a first time prescription to a seventy-two hour
supply.
Present law establishes procedures for the prescribing of controlled dangerous substances.
Present law requires a prescriber to access the Prescription Monitoring Program prior to
initially prescribing any Schedule II controlled dangerous substance to a patient for the
treatment of non-cancer-related chronic or intractable pain.
Proposed law extends the requirement to include prescriptions for any opioid and removes
the limitation that it be an initial prescription or for the treatment of non-cancer-relate
chronic or intractable pain.
Proposed law prohibits a prescription for more than a 72-hour supply of an opioid to a
patient the first time the practitioner prescribes an opioid to that patient unless the 72-hour
supply is insufficient to stabilize the patient’s emergency medical condition and the
practitioner documents the condition and the need for a greater supply in the medical record.
.
Proposed law requires any medical practitioner who prescribes controlled substances to
complete at least five hours of training every two years on the risks of addiction associated
with medications prescribed for pain management.
(Amends R.S. 40:978(F); Adds R.S. 40:978(G) and (H))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.