Sen. Moore Announces Passing of Bill Enhancing Substance Abuse Prevention

Sunday, March 13, 2016

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Michael Moore

Senator Michael Moore announced that the Massachusetts Legislature passed substance addiction legislation that enhances intervention, prevention and education efforts, including the creation of framework to evaluate and treat patients in emergency rooms with an apparent overdose.

“This legislation responds to the critical need for programs and resources to fight substance abuse, and to create stronger and safer communities in our Commonwealth. I have heard from many residents of the Second Worcester District who have lost a friend, neighbor or family member to addiction. This legislation not only targets the accessibility of opioids but also provides preventative and educational measures to protect residents," said Senator Moore.

The new practice, which will be covered by insurance, is designed to ensure proper assessment and discharge of patients who seek voluntary treatment. If a patient should refuse treatment, information on health and community resources will be provided.

“Substance use disorder continues to affect every corner of our Commonwealth and this next piece of legislation gives our schools and health care partners additional tools in the fight against this disease. This bi-partisan bill asks treatment and health care providers, educators, insurers, drug manufacturers, and public safety to come together to engage in these new prevention programs and to all do our part to combat substance abuse throughout the state,” said Senator Jennifer L. Flanagan (D-Leominster) who serves as Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse.

This legislation follows a 65.2% increase in substance addiction funding since FY12 and the landmark substance addiction law passed in 2014.

The two bills are intended to complement each other.

Rules and Regulations of the Bill

The bill limits first time opiate prescriptions to seven days for adults and all opiate prescriptions for minors to seven days, with exceptions for chronic pain management, cancer, and palliative care.

Practitioners must now check the prescription monitoring program every time they prescribe any opiate and correspondingly note that in the patient's medical records.

The bill establishes a non-opiate directive form, allowing patients to include a notation in their records that they shall not be offered opiates.

The New Bill and the Schools

Schools will annually be required to conduct a verbal substance abuse screening in two grade levels. The screenings are subject to appropriate ages and include an opt-out provision for students and parents.

School districts implementing alternative substance use screening policies may opt out of the verbal screening tool requirement.

The Bill also

•   Requires that contact information for all insurers be posted on the bed-finder tool website and updates the law to ensure the site is available 24 hours a day;
•   Requires that patients being discharged from substance addiction receive information on all FDA-approved medication-assisted therapies;
•   Ensures civil-liability protection for individuals who administer Narcan;
•   Updates the training guidelines for all practitioners who prescribe controlled substances;

Sen. Moore Announces Passing of Bill Enhancing Substance Abuse Prevention

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