ASSEMBLY HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4883

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 7, 2019

      The Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 4883.

     This bill requires all general acute care hospitals to include with patient discharge papers, provided that the patient is discharged from the hospital with a prescription for an opioid drug, information concerning the risks of addiction, overdose, and death associated with the use of opioid medications. The information is to include contact information for substance use disorder treatment and recovery resources.  The Department of Health will be required to develop informational materials that may be used by hospitals for the purpose of complying with the requirements of the bill.  The bill will take effect 60 days after the date of enactment, but the Commissioner of Health will be authorized to take any advance administrative action as may be necessary to implement the provisions of the bill.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments clarify that information concerning the risks of addiction, overdose, and death associated with the use of opioid medications are required to be included in patient discharge papers only if the patient is discharged from the hospital with a prescription for an opioid drug.