Prescription Drugs For Chronic Pain

The bill allows a health-care provider to prescribe, dispense, or administer a schedule II, III, IV, or V controlled substance (drug) to a patient in the course of treatment for a diagnosed condition that causes chronic pain. The bill also clarifies that the prescribing health-care provider is not subject to disciplinary action by the appropriate regulator for prescribing a dosage of a drug that is equal to or more than a morphine milligram equivalent dosage recommendation or threshold specified in state or federal opioid prescribing guidelines or policies.

The bill prohibits a health-care provider from refusing to accept or continue to treat a patient solely on the basis of the dosage of a drug the patient requires for the treatment of chronic pain. A health-care provider is also prohibited from tapering a needed dosage solely to meet a predetermined dosage recommendation.

The bill also prohibits a pharmacist, health insurance carrier, or pharmacy benefit manager from refusing to fill or approve the coverage for a drug solely on the basis of the dosage requirement of a patient.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)