ASSEMBLY, No. 3424

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

217th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED MARCH 7, 2016

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  JOSEPH A. LAGANA

District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblyman  PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.

District 18 (Middlesex)

Assemblywoman  NANCY J. PINKIN

District 18 (Middlesex)

Assemblywoman  VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE

District 37 (Bergen)

Assemblywoman  MARLENE CARIDE

District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblyman  RALPH R. CAPUTO

District 28 (Essex)

Assemblyman  BENJIE E. WIMBERLY

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblymen Ciattarelli, Peterson, Giblin, A.M.Bucco, DiMaio, Assemblywoman Chaparro, Assemblyman Coughlin, Assemblywomen Jones, Phoebus, Assemblymen Space, Taliaferro, Assemblywomen Muoio, Rodriguez-Gregg and Jimenez

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires prescribers to discuss addiction risk associated with certain drugs prior to issuing prescription to minor patient.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act concerning prescription medications and supplementing Title 24 of the Revised Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    a. A health care professional authorized to issue prescriptions shall, prior to issuing a prescription for a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance or any opioid drug which is a prescription drug as defined in section 2 of P.L.2003, c.280 (C.45:14-41), discuss with a patient who is under 18 years of age and is an emancipated minor, or with the patient’s parent or guardian if the patient is under 18 years of age and is not an emancipated minor, the risks of developing a physical or psychological dependence on the controlled dangerous substance or prescription opioid drug and, if the prescriber deems it appropriate, such alternative treatments as may be available.

     b.    A prescriber who engages in a discussion required pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall obtain from the person with whom the prescriber had the discussion a written acknowledgement that the discussion took place.  The written acknowledgement shall be included in the patient’s medical record and shall be on a form developed by the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety in consultation with such medical professional societies and associations as may be identified by the director.

     c.     The Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety shall develop and make available to prescribers guidelines for the discussion required pursuant to subsection a. of this section.

     d.    The discussion required under subsection a. of this section shall not be required prior to issuing a prescription to any patient who is currently receiving hospice care from a licensed hospice.

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill requires health care professionals with prescribing authority to discuss the addiction potential of certain prescription medications prior to issuing a prescription for the medication to a patient who is under 18 years of age.  The prescriber is to have this discussion with the patient, if the patient is an emancipated minor, and with the patient’s parent or guardian if the patient is not emancipated.  The discussion will be required prior to issuing a prescription for any Schedule II controlled dangerous substance and any medication which is a prescription opioid.  The prescriber will specifically be required to discuss the risks of developing a physical or psychological dependence on the medication and, if the prescriber deems it appropriate, any alternative treatments that may be available.

     The prescriber will be required to obtain a written acknowledgement of the discussion using a form to be developed by the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety and to include this written acknowledgement in the patient’s medical file.   The director will additionally be required to develop, and make available to prescribers, guidelines for the discussion required under the bill.

     The bill does not require the discussion when prescribing medication to patients who are under hospice care.