An Act To Assist Persons with Disabilities Who Are Subject to Pill Count Requirements
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1951
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: MADIGAN, JACKSON, CRAVEN
Amends: 32 MRSA §2210, 32 MRSA §2600-C, 32 MRSA §3300-F, 32 MRSA §3657, 32 MRSA §18308

Legislative Document
No. 1951
H.P. 1395
House of Representatives, January 8, 2020
An Act To Assist Persons with Disabilities Who Are Subject to Pill 
Count Requirements
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MADIGAN of Waterville.
Cosponsored by President JACKSON of Aroostook and
Representative: CRAVEN of Lewiston.
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, a 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.  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, a 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.  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, a 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.  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, a 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.  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, a 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.  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.