Controlled Substances Bill
Passed by Florida Legislature in 2018, the Controlled Substances Bill establishes prescribing limits, requires continuing education on controlled substance prescribing and expands required use of Florida’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, EFORCSE.
New Requirements are effective July 1, 2018
Board of Pharmacy Chair, Jeenu Philip, provides Pharmacists with an overview of Florida’s Controlled Substance Bill that went into effect on July 1, 2018.
The implementation for these requirements are changing daily, until all mandates and concerns are addressed. For updates and more information regarding the legislation, please visit flhealthsource.gov/FloridaTakeControl.
Prescription limits for Acute Pain
- Prescribing practitioner may prescribe up to a 3-day supply of a Schedule II opioid for acute pain
- Up to 7-day supply if physician determines:
- More than 3-day supply is needed based on professional judgment
- Written indication “acute pain exception” on the prescription, AND
- Justification for deviating from 3-day limit is documented in patient’s medical record
As defined on Florida Take Control website, “Acute pain” is the normal, predicted, physiological, and time-limited response to an adverse chemical, thermal, or mechanical stimulus associated with surgery, trauma, or acute illness. It does not include pain related to cancer, terminal conditions, pain treated with palliative care, or traumatic injuries with an Injury Severity Score of 9 or greater
Prescriptions for non-acute pain
- If prescriber writes a prescription for a Schedule II opioid for the treatment of pain, other than acute pain, prescriber must indicate “non-acute pain” on the prescription
Long Term Care, Skilled Nursing, Assisted Living Facility information
- The Department will be addressing how these limits affect long term care facilities via rulemaking and notice of proposed rule will be published. The proposed rule will provide clarification and should answer all questions. Once the notice of proposed rulemaking is noticed, the public will have the opportunity to review and provide feedback.
- Until a rule is passed, these regulations are required
Required Continuing Education
- Each prescribing practitioner who is registered with DEA must take Board-approved CE course
- Must be completed by Jan. 31, 2019
For information on CDC Guidelines click link:
Guidelines_Factsheet- prescribing opioids
Link to Florida Take Control website for Frequently Asked Questions and more information
