ASSEMBLY, No. 1482

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED JANUARY 29, 1996

By Assemblywoman VANDERVALK

An Act concerning the prescribing of controlled drugs and supplementing chapter 9 of Title 45 of the Revised Statutes.

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

    1. A physician licensed pursuant to chapter 9 of Title 45 of the Revised Statutes may prescribe a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance for the use of a patient in any quantity which does not exceed a 30-day supply that the physician deems medically indicated for the management or relief of intractable pain associated with a terminal illness or a chronic disorder, as defined by regulations adopted by the State Board of Medical Examiners in consultation with the Department of Health, when the physician determines that no cure or relief is possible, consistent with prevailing standards of medical care, or when none has been found after a reasonable effort to do so. The physician shall document the diagnosis and the medical need for the prescription in the patient's medical record, in accordance with guidelines established by the State Board of Medical Examiners.

    2. The State Board of Medical Examiners, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this act.

    3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill permits the prescribing of a schedule II controlled dangerous substance, including narcotics such as morphine, for the use of a patient in any quantity not to exceed a 30-day supply that a physician deems medically indicated for the management or relief of intractable pain associated with a terminal illness or a chronic disorder, as defined by regulations adopted by the State Board of Medical Examiners (BME) in consultation with the Department of Health (DOH), when the physician determines that no cure or relief is possible, consistent with prevailing standards of medical care, or when none has been found after a reasonable effort to do so. The physician is to document the diagnosis and the medical need for the prescription in the patient's medical record, in accordance with guidelines established by the BME.

Permits the prescribing of a 30-day supply of controlled dangerous substances when medically indicated for pain in patients with terminal illness or chronic disorders.