Matrix Diagnostics

Matrix News

Florida legislator proposes limiting opioid prescriptions

Florida State Senator, Aaron Bean, filed a bill on Monday with the Florida Legislature, which would limit patients’ initial prescriptions for opioids to a seven-day supply.

The bill’s intent is to curtail the oversupply of opioids that is fuelling the opioid abuse epidemic in the US. It would permit physicians to prescribe a 30-day renewal for opioids at the end of the initial seven-day supply.

The bill also requires that physicians access Florida’s prescription drug monitoring database before prescribing opioids. Physicians would also need to take a two-hour course on prescribing controlled substances when they renew their medical license every two years.

The seven-day initial limit is more liberal than the three-day initial limit suggested by Governor, Rick Scott. Scott is also seeking $50m (£38m) in extra funding for drug abuse recovery and treatment services, as well as more funds for the Florida Violent Crime and Drug Control Council. The Council provides financial help to state and local police departments investigating major drug crimes.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the trade group representing the US drug industry, announced that it supports limiting initial opioid prescriptions to seven days. Stephen Ubl, PhRMA’s President and CEO, said that combining appropriate limits on opioid prescriptions with increased physician education, and more treatment alternatives would assist physicians to prescribe appropriate levels of opioids, reducing the risk of drug abuse.

The Legislature will consider extra funding for combatting the opioid epidemic during budget negotiations in January 2018.

Please Get In Touch

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.