Ground-breaking legislation passed by the California Assembly and currently under review by the state Senate requires doctors to inform pain patients about the dangers of opioids and the benefits of conservative care options before prescribing.
[A] prescriber shall discuss all of the following information with the patient ... before directly dispensing or issuing to a patient the first prescription in a single course of treatment for a controlled substance containing an opioid:
(1) The risks of addiction and overdose associated with the use of opioids.
(2) The increased risk of addiction to an opioid for an individual who is suffering from both mental and substance abuse disorders.
(3) The danger of taking an opioid with a benzodiazepine, alcohol, or another central nervous system depressant.
(4) The availability of nonpharmacological treatments for pain.
But that's not all. AB 888 goes a key step further by requiring doctors to offer patients a referral to a nondrug pain management provider (as determined by the doctor) in lieu of opioids; and requires both parties to sign a form acknowledging they have discussed the above.
(1) Obtain informed written consent from the patient ... which shall be placed in the patient's medical record and shall contain all of the following:
(A) The name and quantity of the controlled substance being prescribed or issued to the patient, and the amount of the initial dose.
(B) A statement certifying that the prescriber discussed with the patient ... the information required by subdivision (a).
(C) A space for the signature of the patient, a minor patient's parent or guardian, or another adult authorized to consent to the minor patient's medical treatment.
(2) Offer, as deemed appropriate by the prescriber, a referral for a provider of nonpharmacological treatments for pain.
William Updyke, DC, past president of the California Chiropractic Association, emphasized the value of the legislation: "AB 888 will require any initial opioid prescription include a full informed consent to provide a much needed level of transparency. Patients deserve to be educated about the dangers of opioids prior to filling a prescription."?
You can track the progress of AB 888, review full bill text and read the CCA press release online at [url=https://www.calchiro.org/ab-888]https://www.calchiro.org/ab-888[/url]. Then contact your state legislators and suggest they introduce similar legislation in your state. ?
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