MAFP legislative representative Dave Renner, CAE, shares an update on an opioid stewardship bill moving through the Minnesota House.
Legislation establishing a new licensing fee on drug manufacturers and drug distributers to raise money to address the opioid crisis passed through two Minnesota House committees last week.
The legislation, HF 400, was introduced by Representative Liz Olson (DFL-Duluth) and jointly presented with Representative Dave Baker (R-Willmar).
In addition to establishing a new licensing fee to raise $20 million, the bill also provides funds for patient and prescriber education, addiction treatment and county social services.
The Minnesota Medical Association testified in support of the bill, raising concern with two new CME mandates for prescribers with DEA numbers.
The bill passed the Health and Human Services Policy Committee with a strong bi-partisan vote and was re-referred to the House Commerce Committee.
The Commerce Committee heard the bill on February 6, 2019. Representative Olson accepted an amendment to remove one of the CME requirements and sunset the other in three years. This will result in prescribers needing two hours of education on “best practices in prescribing opioids and controlled substances, including nonpharmacological alternatives for treatment of pain and ongoing pain management…” in the next three years.
The bill also includes a dose limit of no more than a seven-day supply when used to treat acute pain associated with major trauma or surgical procedures. This provision does allow a prescriber to exceed the limit if “in the clinical judgment of a practitioner, more than a seven-day supply…is required.”
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Posted by:
- Jami Burbidge, MAM, director of advocacy & engagement, @jami_burbidge
- Emie Buege, communications