An Act To Extend the Limitation on Prescribing Opioids for Certain Individuals with Chronic Pain
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0500
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: CHENETTE, DIAMOND, MAREAN
Amends: 32 MRSA §2210, 32 MRSA §2600-C, 32 MRSA §3300-F, 32 MRSA §3657, 32 MRSA §18308

Legislative Document
No. 500
S.P. 165
In Senate, January 31, 2019
An Act To Extend the Limitation on Prescribing Opioids for Certain 
Individuals with Chronic Pain
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator CHENETTE of York.  (BY REQUEST)
Cosponsored by Senator: DIAMOND of Cumberland, Representative: MAREAN of Hollis.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §2210, sub-§1, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 488, §13, is 
amended to read:
C.  On or after January 1, 2017, within a 30-day period, more than a 30-day supply of 
an opioid medication to a patient under treatment for chronic pain or, within a 6-
month period, more than a 6-month supply of an opioid medication to a patient under 
treatment for chronic pain who has been prescribed medication for chronic pain 
continually for at least 5 years or who is 63 years of age or older.  "Chronic pain" has 
the same meaning as in Title 22, section 7246, subsection 1-C; or
Sec. 2.  32 MRSA §2600-C, sub-§1, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 488, §17, is 
amended to read:
C.  On or after January 1, 2017, within a 30-day period, more than a 30-day supply of 
an opioid medication to a patient under treatment for chronic pain or, within a 6-
month period, more than a 6-month supply of an opioid medication to a patient under 
treatment for chronic pain who has been prescribed medication for chronic pain 
continually for at least 5 years or who is 63 years of age or older.  For purposes of 
this paragraph, "chronic pain" has the same meaning as in Title 22, section 7246, 
subsection 1-C; or
Sec. 3.  32 MRSA §3300-F, sub-§1, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 488, §20, is 
amended to read:
C.  On or after January 1, 2017, within a 30-day period, more than a 30-day supply of 
an opioid medication to a patient under treatment for chronic pain or, within a 6-
month period, more than a 6-month supply of an opioid medication to a patient under 
treatment for chronic pain who has been prescribed medication for chronic pain 
continually for at least 5 years or who is 63 years of age or older.  "Chronic pain" has 
the same meaning as in Title 22, section 7246, subsection 1-C; or
Sec. 4.  32 MRSA §3657, sub-§1, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 488, §23, is 
amended to read:
C.  On or after January 1, 2017, within a 30-day period, more than a 30-day supply of 
an opioid medication to a patient under treatment for chronic pain or, within a 6-
month period, more than a 6-month supply of an opioid medication to a patient under 
treatment for chronic pain who has been prescribed medication for chronic pain 
continually for at least 5 years or who is 63 years of age or older.  "Chronic pain" has 
the same meaning as in Title 22, section 7246, subsection 1-C; or
Sec. 5.  32 MRSA §18308, sub-§1, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 488, §32, is 
amended to read:
C.  On or after January 1, 2017, within a 30-day period, more than a 30-day supply of 
an opioid medication to a patient under treatment for chronic pain or, within a 6-
month period, more than a 6-month supply of an opioid medication to a patient under 
treatment for chronic pain who has been prescribed medication for chronic pain 
continually for at least 5 years or who is 63 years of age or older.  For purposes of 
this paragraph, "chronic pain" has the same meaning as in Title 22, section 7246, 
subsection 1-C; or
SUMMARY
Current law prohibits an individual licensed to prescribe opioid medication from 
prescribing more than a 30-day supply of an opioid medication to a patient under 
treatment for chronic pain.  This bill allows an individual licensed to prescribe opioid 
medication to prescribe no more than a 6-month supply of an opioid medication to a 
patient under treatment for chronic pain who has been prescribed medication for chronic 
pain continually for at least 5 years or is 63 years of age or older.