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RESOLUTION SUPPORTING SENATE BILL 458 OR SIMILAR LEGISLATION FILED FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE THAT WOULD (1) LIMIT AN INITIAL PRESCRIPTION FOR OPIOIDS TO A 7-DAY SUPPLY, (2) LIMIT REFILL PRESCRIPTIONS FOR OPIOIDS TO A 30-DAY SUPPLY FOR CERTAIN PATIENTS, (3) REQUIRE CERTAIN PRESCRIBERS OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES TO ACCESS PATIENTS� DRUG HISTORIES IN THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG MONITORING PROGRAM�S DATABASE, AND (4) MANDATE PRESCRIBERS OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES COMPLETE CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES AS A CONDITION FOR LICENSURE

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WHEREAS, this Board wishes to express its support for Senate Bill (�SB�) 458 introduced by Senator Aaron Bean (R-Jacksonville), related to opioids; and
WHEREAS, SB 458 would amend the Controlled Substance Prescribing Act, section 456.44, Florida Statutes, to:
1. Limit initial prescriptions for opioids to a 7-day supply;
2. Limit refill prescriptions for opioids to a 30-day supply for certain patients;
3. Mandate certain prescribers of controlled substances access patients� drug histories in the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program�s database before the initial prescription and every 90 days thereafter, for as long as the prescription is refilled; and
4. Beginning in January 2019, require health care practitioners who prescribe controlled substances to complete a two hour continuing education course on current standards for prescribing controlled substances and the risks associated therewith for initial licensure and licensure renewal; and
WHEREAS, SB 458 is an alternative proposal to SB 8 filed by Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto (R-Fort Myers) and House Bill (�HB�) 21 filed by Representative Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton), which is the Governor�s proposal; and
WHEREAS, SB 458, SB 8 and HB 21 all propose additional licensure requirements for practitioners that prescribe opioids, imposition of limitations on opioid prescriptions and reporting requirements linked to opioid prescriptions; and
WHEREAS, SB 458 proposes to limit initial prescriptions for opioids to a 7-day supply, by contrast, SB 8 and HB 21 both propose a 3-day supply for initial prescriptions with some exceptions; and
WHEREAS, additionally, SB 458 is narrower in scope than SB 8 and HB 21 and is harmonious with directives from this Board; and
WHEREAS, specifically, through Resolution No. R-199-17, this Board created the Miami-Dade Opioid Addiction Task Force (�Task Force�), which developed comprehensive opioid addiction action and implementation plans to halt the opioid addiction epidemic in Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, a number of recommendations made by the Task Force, including, but not limited to: (1) advocating for mandatory continuing educations for physicians, dentists, and clinical providers on opiate misuse and heroin abuse, prescribing, and substance abuse; (2) reviewing and developing regulations to promote safe prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances; and (3) encouraging medical providers utilize the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program database are congruent with provisions in SB 458; and
WHEREAS, additionally, on October 17, 2017, this Board adopted Resolution No. R-936-17, which urged the Florida Board of Medicine to implement a continuing education course on opioid abuse and Florida Department of Health to implement regulations promoting safe prescribing and dispensing methods for controlled substances; and
WHEREAS, due to the ravaging impact opioid abuse and misuse has had on Miami-Dade County and other communities throughout the state, additional legislation geared toward safe prescribing methods and preventing over prescribing of opioids and other controlled substances is necessary,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Approves the foregoing recitals, which are incorporated herein by reference.
Section 2. Supports Senate Bill 458 or similar legislation filed for consideration by the Florida Legislature that would (1) limit an initial prescription for opioids to a 7-day supply, (2) limit refill prescriptions for opioids to a 30-day supply for certain patients, (3) require certain prescribers of controlled substances to access patients� drug histories in the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program�s database before the initial prescription and every 90 days thereafter, for as long as the prescription is refilled and (4) mandate prescribers of controlled substances to complete a two hour continuing education course on current standards for prescribing controlled substances and the risks associated therewith for initial licensure and licensure renewal.
Section 3. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit certified copies of the resolution to the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, Senator Aaron Bean, Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto, Representative Jim Boyd and the Chair and Members of the Miami-Dade State Legislative Delegation.
Section 4. Directs the County�s state lobbyists to advocate for the issues identified in Section 2 above, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to amend the 2018 State Legislative Package to include this item.