What's happening
This bill requires doctors to counsel patients on overdose risks and naloxone availability when prescribing more than a week's supply of opioid analgesics.
Why it matters
Direct patient counseling by prescribers ensures patients are made aware of the potentially life-threatening risks of opioid overdose, which can encourage safer use and greater vigilance.
By informing patients about naloxone and other opioid antagonists, the law aims to increase awareness and potential uptake of these life-saving medications, potentially reducing fatalities from accidental overdoses.
The requirement targets prescriptions above a one-week supply, focusing on higher-risk scenarios and aiming to prevent the development of dependence or misuse at an early stage.
Defining specific opioid medications and antagonists within the law provides clarity for both prescribers and patients, ensuring consistent application and understanding across the healthcare system.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Warn Patients About Opioids
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 26
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Warn Patients About Opioids
In Senate Committee · Health · Sponsor Michael H. Ranzenhofer
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
327
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 5, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. BRAUNSTEIN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to opioid analgesic prescriptions
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 3309-b to read as follows:
§ 3309-b. Opioid analgesic prescription. 1. For the first opioid analgesic prescription of a calendar year that is greater than a one week's supply, the prescribing physician shall counsel the patient on the risks of overdose, and inform the patient of the availability of an opioid antagonist, including, but not limited to, naloxone.
2. For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Opioid analgesics" means the medicines buprenorphine, butorphanol, codeine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, levorphanol, meperidine, methadone, morphine, nalbuphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, pentazocine, propoxyphene as well as their brand names, isomers and combinations.
(b) "Opioid antagonist" means an FDA-approved drug that, when administered, negates or neutralizes in whole or in part the pharmacological effects of an opioid in the body. The opioid antagonist is limited to naloxone or other medications approved by the department for this purpose.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01757-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.