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An Act To Amend the Continuing Education Requirements for Prescribers of Opioid Medication
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §2210, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 488, §13, is amended to read:
 
4. Continuing education.   By December 31, 2017, anAn individual licensed under this chapter must successfully complete 3 hours of continuing education every 2 years on the prescription of opioid medication as a condition of prescribing opioid medication. After the completion of an initial 3 hours of continuing education, the individual must successfully complete one hour of continuing education every 2 years on the prescription of opioid medication as a condition of prescribing opioid medication. The board shall adopt rules to implement this subsection. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §2600-C, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 488, §17, is amended to read:
 
4. Continuing education.   By December 31, 2017, anAn individual licensed under this chapter must successfully complete 3 hours of continuing education every 2 years on the prescription of opioid medication as a condition of prescribing opioid medication. After the completion of an initial 3 hours of continuing education, the individual must successfully complete one hour of continuing education every 2 years on the prescription of opioid medication as a condition of prescribing opioid medication. The board shall adopt rules to implement this subsection. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §3300-F, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 488, §20, is amended to read:
 
4. Continuing education.   By December 31, 2017, anAn individual licensed under this chapter must successfully complete 3 hours of continuing education every 2 years on the prescription of opioid medication as a condition of prescribing opioid medication. After the completion of an initial 3 hours of continuing education, the individual must successfully complete one hour of continuing education every 2 years on the prescription of opioid medication as a condition of prescribing opioid medication. The board shall adopt rules to implement this subsection. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 4. 32 MRSA §3657, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 488, §23, is amended to read:
 
4. Continuing education.   By December 31, 2017, anAn individual licensed under this chapter must successfully complete 3 hours of continuing education every 2 years on the prescription of opioid medication as a condition of prescribing opioid medication. After the completion of an initial 3 hours of continuing education, the individual must successfully complete one hour of continuing education every 2 years on the prescription of opioid medication as a condition of prescribing opioid medication. The board shall adopt rules to implement this subsection. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 5. 32 MRSA §18308, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 488, §32, is amended to read:
 
4. Continuing education.   By December 31, 2017, anAn individual licensed under this chapter must successfully complete 3 hours of continuing education every 2 years on the prescription of opioid medication as a condition of prescribing opioid medication. After the completion of an initial 3 hours of continuing education, the individual must successfully complete one hour of continuing education every 2 years on the prescription of opioid medication as a condition of prescribing opioid medication. The board shall adopt rules to implement this subsection. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
 
SUMMARY
This bill will reduce the amount of opioid prescribing education required of prescribers from 3 hours per license cycle of 2 years to one hour per license cycle of 2 years after the licensee has completed an initial 3-hour requirement. It will also require the licensing boards to adopt rules consistent with the reduction in the amount of required prescribing education.