An Act To Inform Patients of the Dangers of Addicting Opioids
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0479
Committee Amendment CA_A_H246 (House)
Amends: 32 MRSA §2210, 32 MRSA §2600-C, 32 MRSA §3300-F, 32 MRSA §3657, 32 MRSA §18308

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,.f}" to H.P. 342, L.D. 479, Bill, "An Act To 
Inform Patients of the Dangers of Addicting Opioids" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and insetting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §2210, sub-§6 is enacted to read: 
6. Opioid medication policy. No later than Januaty 1, 2018, a 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. For the purposes of this 
subsection, "health care entity" has the same meaning as in Title 22, section 1718-B, 
subsection l, paragraph B. 
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §2600-C, sub-§6 is enacted to read: 
6. Opioid medication policy. No later than Janua1y 1, 2018, a 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. 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 is enacted to read: 
6. Opioid medication policy. No later than Januaty 1, 2018, a 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, 
Page l - 128LR1032(02)-1 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
of f3. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'it" to H.P. 342, L.D. 479 
informed consent and counseling on the risk of opioid use. 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 is enacted to read: 
6. Opioid medication policy. No later than Janumy 1, 2018, a 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. 
infonned consent and counseling on the risk of opioid use. 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 is enacted to read: 
6. Opioid medication policy. No later than January 1, 2018, a 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. 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 amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, replaces the bill. 
Rather than requiring a prescriber of opioid medication to inform a patient of the risks of 
addiction, it requires health care entities that include prescribers of opioid medications to 
develop an opioid medication prescribing policy that includes risk assessment, informed 
consent and counseling on the risk of opioid use. The policy must be developed by 
January 1, 2018. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT