What's happening
This bill reduces the initial prescription limit for opioids to treat acute pain from seven days to three days.
Why it matters
A stricter initial prescription limit may help prevent opioid misuse at the start of treatment, a known risk period for developing dependence or addiction. By reducing the supply from seven to three days, the bill aims to cut down on leftover pills that could be misused or diverted.
Patients experiencing acute pain may need more frequent follow-ups with healthcare providers. This could lead to increased provider oversight, but may also add inconvenience, cost, or access issues for some patients who require continuing pain relief.
The bill reflects a public health strategy to address the opioid crisis by targeting prescribing practices, especially for new pain episodes. It signals a shift toward more cautious opioid prescribing norms and could influence broader trends in pain management within the state.
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Who cares
Opioid prescribers
The bill would reduce the maximum initial prescription for a Schedule II, III or IV opioid for acute pain from a seven-day supply to a three-day supply.
Patients with acute pain
Patients needing opioids beyond the initial three-day supply would need a subsequent consultation for an appropriate renewal, refill or new prescription.
Pharmacists
The bill would change the supply limit for initial acute-pain opioid prescriptions they fill, while leaving subsequent prescriptions subject to existing provisions.
Headline styles
Limit Painkiller Prescriptions to 3 Days
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 108
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.
Limit Opioid Prescriptions to 3 Days
In Senate Committee · Health · Sponsor Kemp Hannon
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7741
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 11, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. McDONALD -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to limiting the initial prescription of a controlled substance for the alleviation of acute pain from a seven-day supply to a three-day supply
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 5 of section 3331 of the public health law, as added by section 1 of part C of chapter 71 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subdivision, a practitioner, within the scope of his or her professional opinion or discretion, may not prescribe more than a [seven-day] three-day supply of any schedule II, III, or IV opioid to an ultimate user upon the initial consultation or treatment of such user for acute pain. Upon any subsequent consultations for the same pain, the practitioner may issue, in accordance with paragraph (a) of this subdivision, any appropriate renewal, refill, or new prescription for the opioid or any other drug.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11357-02-7
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.