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An Act To Assist Persons with Disabilities Who Are Subject to Pill Count Requirements
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §2210, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 186, §1, is amended to read:
 
6. Opioid medication policy.   No later than January 1, 2018, aA health care entity that includes an individual licensed under this chapter whose scope of practice includes prescribing opioid medication must have in place an opioid medication prescribing policy that applies to all prescribers of opioid medications employed by the entity. The policy must include, but is not limited to, procedures and practices related to risk assessment, informed consent and counseling on the risk of opioid use. Procedures established under the policy must provide accommodations for patients with disabilities who are subject to pill count requirements. For the purposes of this subsection, "health care entity" has the same meaning as in Title 22, section 1718-B, subsection 1, paragraph B.
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §2600-C, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 186, §2, is amended to read:
 
6. Opioid medication policy.   No later than January 1, 2018, aA health care entity that includes an individual licensed under this chapter whose scope of practice includes prescribing opioid medication must have in place an opioid medication prescribing policy that applies to all prescribers of opioid medications employed by the entity. The policy must include, but is not limited to, procedures and practices related to risk assessment, informed consent and counseling on the risk of opioid use. Procedures established under the policy must provide accommodations for patients with disabilities who are subject to pill count requirements. For the purposes of this subsection, "health care entity" has the same meaning as in Title 22, section 1718-B, subsection 1, paragraph B.
Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §3300-F, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 186, §3, is amended to read:
 
6. Opioid medication policy.   No later than January 1, 2018, aA health care entity that includes an individual licensed under this chapter whose scope of practice includes prescribing opioid medication must have in place an opioid medication prescribing policy that applies to all prescribers of opioid medications employed by the entity. The policy must include, but is not limited to, procedures and practices related to risk assessment, informed consent and counseling on the risk of opioid use. Procedures established under the policy must provide accommodations for patients with disabilities who are subject to pill count requirements. For the purposes of this subsection, "health care entity" has the same meaning as in Title 22, section 1718-B, subsection 1, paragraph B.
Sec. 4. 32 MRSA §3657, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 186, §4, is amended to read:
 
6. Opioid medication policy.   No later than January 1, 2018, aA health care entity that includes an individual licensed under this chapter whose scope of practice includes prescribing opioid medication must have in place an opioid medication prescribing policy that applies to all prescribers of opioid medications employed by the entity. The policy must include, but is not limited to, procedures and practices related to risk assessment, informed consent and counseling on the risk of opioid use. Procedures established under the policy must provide accommodations for patients with disabilities who are subject to pill count requirements. For the purposes of this subsection, "health care entity" has the same meaning as in Title 22, section 1718-B, subsection 1, paragraph B.
Sec. 5. 32 MRSA §18308, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 186, §5, is amended to read:
 
6. Opioid medication policy.   No later than January 1, 2018, aA health care entity that includes an individual licensed under this chapter whose scope of practice includes prescribing opioid medication must have in place an opioid medication prescribing policy that applies to all prescribers of opioid medications employed by the entity. The policy must include, but is not limited to, procedures and practices related to risk assessment, informed consent and counseling on the risk of opioid use. Procedures established under the policy must provide accommodations for patients with disabilities who are subject to pill count requirements. For the purposes of this subsection, "health care entity" has the same meaning as in Title 22, section 1718-B, subsection 1, paragraph B.
 
SUMMARY
This bill requires that procedures established pursuant to opioid medication policies adopted by health care entities provide accommodations for patients with disabilities who are subject to pill count requirements.