An Act To Add an Exception to Prescription Monitoring Program Requirements
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §7253, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 488, §9, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
3. Exceptions. The requirements to check prescription monitoring information established in this section do not apply:
A. When a licensed or certified health care professional directly orders or administers a benzodiazepine or opioid medication to a person in an emergency room setting, an inpatient hospital setting, a long-term care facility or a residential care facility; or
B. When a licensed or certified heath care professional directly orders, prescribes or administers a benzodiazepine or opioid medication to a person suffering from pain associated with cancer treatment or end-of-life, palliative or hospice care.
summary
Current law provides an exception to the requirement to check prescription monitoring information when a health care professional orders or administers the medication to a person in an emergency room, an inpatient hospital, a long-term care facility or a residential care facility. This bill expands the exception to include when a health care professional orders, prescribes or administers medication to a person suffering from pain associated with cancer treatment or end-of-life, palliative or hospice care.