Statewide Opioids Prescription Monitoring Bill is Now in Effect
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services has issued a release pointing out the details in the new statewide opioids bill which went into effective Friday.
The new law is from the bill titled An Act To Prevent Opiate Abuse by Strengthening the Controlled Substances Prescription Monitoring Program.
The major points covered in the bill are:
As of 7/29/2016
- New prescriptions cannot exceed 100 Morphine Milligram Equivalent (MME) per day
- Existing prescriptions cannot exceed 300MME per day
Unless:
- An individual falls under one of the exceptions under Title 22, § 2210
- It is deemed medically necessary by the prescriber and the need is documented in the patient’s chart as referenced under Title 22, § 7254
As of 1/1/2017
- Prescribers are required to check the PMP for any new benzo or opioid prescription and recheck every 90 days thereafter
- A patient receiving treatment for chronic pain is limited to a 30 day supply of an opioid medication
- A patient receiving treatment for acute pain is limited to a 7 day supply of an opioid medication
As of 7/1/2017
- Opioids must be electronically prescribed
- Existing prescriptions for opioid medication will be limited to 100MME per day
The Department says rulemaking is underway to provide guidance for e-prescribing and to clarify exceptions.