Amends TCA Section 53-10-303; Section 63-1-164 and Chapter 1039 of the Public Acts of 2018.

Public Chapter 1039 of 2018 made various changes to prior law concerning the prescribing of opioids. Generally, Public Chapter 1039:<br /> <br /> (1) Expanded the circumstances under which prescribers are required to check the controlled substance database;<br /> <br /> (2) Added to the list of information a healthcare practitioner must submit to the controlled substance database the ICD-10 code for any prescription that contains an ICD-10 code and a value signifying opioid treatment is occurring pursuant to a medical necessity; and<br /> <br /> (3) Subject to certain exceptions, prohibited a healthcare practitioner from treating patient with:<br /> <br /> (A) More than a three-day supply of an opioid;<br /> <br /> (B) An opioid dosage that exceeds a total of a 180 morphine milligram equivalent dose; and<br /> <br /> (C) An opioid more frequently than every 10 days.<br /> <br /> For the purposes described in (1)-(3), Public Chapter 1039 of 2018 took effect on July 1, 2018, and terminates July 1, 2023, at which time the prior law will be restored.<br /> <br /> This bill removes the termination date for the purposes described in (1)-(3).<br /> <br /> ON MARCH 30, 2023, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 277 FOR HOUSE BILL 325, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 277, AS AMENDED.<br /> <br /> AMENDMENT #1 adds to this bill and changes present law as follows:<br /> <br /> (1) Provides that after issuing an initial prescription to a patient for an opioid in a manner that complies with present law, the healthcare practitioner who issued the initial prescription is not required to obtain and document informed consent if the subsequent prescription is for the same opioid and for the same episode of treatment. Informed consent must be updated periodically during any course of treatment;<br /> <br /> (2) Excepts the treatment of patients who have undergone recent cancer treatment from restrictions and limitations on treating patients with opioids to same extent as such exemption applies under present law to the treatment of patients who are undergoing active cancer treatment, undergoing palliative care treatment, or are receiving hospice care. This amendment defines "recent cancer treatment" to mean six months following the end of an active cancer treatment; and<br /> <br /> (3) Replaces an obsolete reporting requirement with a requirement that the commissioner of health, in consultation with the healthcare professional regulatory boards, provide a letter no later than November 1 of each even-numbered year to the governor, the speaker of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the health and welfare committee of the senate, and the health committee of the house of representatives that includes updated information on the impact and effects of the restrictions set forth in this bill.<br />