Opioid Rx Guidelines

Opioid Rx Guidelines

New Opioid Legislation

The state of Michigan has enacted new legislation regulating opioid prescriptions. The law requires licensed prescribers to:

  1. Establish a legitimate provider-patient relationship
  2. Register on the Michigan Automated Prescription System (MAPS)
  3. Review a patient’s complete medical history on MAPS
  4. Educate patients on risks and alternatives to opioid use
  5. Limit the number of pills dispensed in any seven-day period

Dates and details you need to know.

June 1, 2018: MAPS Reports, Patient Education, Parental Consent

  1. Licensed prescribers cannot prescribe or dispense a covered drug unless they are registered with MAPS.
  2. Prescribers must obtain and review a MAPS report prior to prescribing or dispensing opioid medication.
  3. Before prescribing an opioid, licensed prescribers are required to provide information to patients or their representatives describing.
    1. The dangers of opioid addiction.
    2. How to properly dispose of unused opioid drugs.
    3. The fact that delivery of a controlled substance is a felony in Michigan.
    4. The effects of exposing unborn babies to a controlled substance (applies to all pregnant and female patients of child-bearing age).
  4. Before a provider can prescribe an opioid drug for a minor, the prescriber must:
    1. Educate both the minor and their parent or guardian about the risks of addiction and overdose.
    2. Obtain the parent or parent’s authorized representative’s signature on a “start talking consent form.”
    3. Include the signed start talking consent form in the minor’s medical record.

 

July 1, 2018: Prescriber Limits for Opioids
Licensed prescribers may prescribe an opioid drug to treat acute pain in seven-day increments only, and no more than once in each seven-day period. An opioid may only be prescribed for pain that is:

  • Associated with invasive procedures, trauma, or disease
  • Usually of a limited duration

 

March 31, 2019 or Earlier: Established Prescriber-Patient Relationship

Licensed prescribers must have an established relationship with a patient before prescribing controlled substances. This includes:

  • A review of the patient's relevant medical records
  • A full assessment of the patient's medical history and current medical conditions

NOTE: The actual effective date is the sooner of either March 31, 2019 or the date on which the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs finalizes rules regarding the prescriber-patient relationship. Munson Healthcare anticipates that these rules will be finalized prior to March 31, 2019.