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1 Statement of Intent. The general court hereby recognizes that the opioid crisis continues to grip our communities. Many persons become addicted after being prescribed opioid pain killers by their health care provider for an injury they have sustained. Patients are often given a choice to take an alternative pain killer or the opioid pain killer the health care provider has prescribed. This may give the patient a false sense of security that either is fine to take. Unfortunately, depending on the patient, he or she may become addicted to the opioid that was prescribed.
2 New Section; Controlled Drug Act; Opioid Disclosure. Amend RSA 318-B by inserting after section 1-c the following new section:
318-B:1-d Disclosure Form for Opioid Prescriptions. Licensed health care providers shall require patients to sign a disclosure form informing the patient that taking opioid drugs could possibly lead to addiction and that such drugs should only be taken if pain is severe. If the patient may be able to use an alternative medication, the form shall include a statement to that effect and that it would be a preferable course of action. The form required under this section may be used to satisfy the requirements of RSA 318-B:41, II(a)(5). The commissioner may adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to the form and content of the form required under this section.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
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1 Statement of Intent. The general court hereby recognizes that the opioid crisis continues to grip our communities. Many persons become addicted after being prescribed opioid pain killers by their health care provider for an injury they have sustained. Patients are often given a choice to take an alternative pain killer or the opioid pain killer the health care provider has prescribed. This may give the patient a false sense of security that either is fine to take. Unfortunately, depending on the patient, he or she may become addicted to the opioid that was prescribed.
2 New Section; Controlled Drug Act; Opioid Disclosure. Amend RSA 318-B by inserting after section 1-c the following new section:
318-B:1-d Disclosure Form for Opioid Prescriptions. Licensed health care providers shall require patients to sign a disclosure form informing the patient that taking opioid drugs could possibly lead to addiction and that such drugs should only be taken if pain is severe. If the patient may be able to use an alternative medication, the form shall include a statement to that effect and that it would be a preferable course of action. The form required under this section may be used to satisfy the requirements of RSA 318-B:41, II(a)(5). The commissioner may adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to the form and content of the form required under this section.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.