LANSING (WKZO AM/FM) — A bi-partisan package of bills to fight opioid abuse has been announced in Lansing by Governor Rick Snyder and a dozen Lawmakers.
Snyder says approaching it as a law enforcement problem has failed.
The centerpiece of the package is the rollout of a new MAPS System and laws that require that doctors use it to track the prescription history of their patients. The computerized system is designed to be able to follow the patient and list all their prescriptions, where ever they come from.
Doctors have complained that the current Michigan Automated Prescription System is clunky and unreliable, but a new system will be rolled out next month that works better.
Sponsor Tonya Schuitmaker of Lawton says it takes the problem back to where it begins for most addicts. Back to the doctor’s office where they get that first prescription for a painkiller that becomes addictive.
They say it will end the practice of “doctor shopping” by patients, and expose “pill mills”, doctors who overprescribe for the money.
Two of the bills in the massive new package are being sponsored by Mattawan Republican Beth Griffin, and are directed at schools, which already have drug abatement lessons.
One bill calls for the development of a new curriculum that spells out the dangers of the drug and a second will require that the curriculum or some other program spelling out the dangers of the drug be included in school health programs.
Griffin is a former school teacher and is a mother. She says the course work could save lives.
Other bills in the package will:
- Increase penalties for physicians and pharmacists who wrongfully prescribe, dispense, manufacture or distribute controlled substances (sponsored by Sens. Jim Ananich and Margaret O’Brien).
- Require prescribers to have a bona-fide physician-patient relationship with a patient before prescribing a Schedule 2 through 5 controlled substance (sponsored by Sen. Steve Bieda).
- Require prescribers to provide information to patients on dangers, proper disposal and penalties for dispensing prior to prescribing a controlled substance (sponsored by Sen. Mike Shirkey).
- Require physicians to provide patients being treated for an opioid overdose with information on substance use disorder services (sponsored by Sen. Rick Jones).
- Create prescribing limits for opioids. Prescribers would be limited to prescribing chronic pain sufferers a 30-day supply of opioids and acute pain suffers a 7-day supply of opioids (sponsored by Sen. Marty Knollenberg).
- Require pain management facilities to be licensed by the state (sponsored by Rep. Sam Singh).
- Provide treatment options for Medicaid beneficiaries suffering from opioid addiction including medically necessary acute treatment services, inpatient care and clinical stabilization services (sponsored by Rep. Andy Schor).
- Protect pharmacists from civil liability if the pharmacist refuses to fill a prescription, so long as they are acting in good faith and have reasonable doubt regarding the authenticity of the prescription or believe the prescription is being filled for non-medical purposes (sponsored by Rep. Kathy Crawford).
- Require parental consent and signature before a minor receives their first prescription of a controlled substance containing an opioid. Prior to receiving consent, the prescriber should discuss with the minor and their parent the potential risk of addiction and overdose (sponsored by Rep. Joseph Bellino).
