Bills Addressing State Opioid Crisis Now Law, Says Reed

11/2/2016

HARRISBURG – A package of bills aimed at addressing Pennsylvania’s opioid and heroin epidemic was signed into law today by to Gov. Tom Wolf, according to House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana).

“We are dealing with a public health crisis, and moving these bills through the legislative process and getting then signed before the end of the current session was one of our top priorities,” Reed said. “These new laws are about saving lives and families and reducing the number of overdoses as we continue the battle against opioid and heroin abuse that is being waged in communities across the Commonwealth.”

The legislation signed by the governor includes:

•    Act 122, formerly House Bill 1699, will prohibit a health care practitioner from prescribing more than seven days of an opioid product to a patient in an emergency department or urgent care center, or who is in observation status in a hospital. The measure also will require caretakers to refer patients who show signs of addiction to treatment.
•    Act 123, formerly House Bill 1737, will allow for the proper disposal of unused prescriptions and over-the-counter medications.
•    Act 124, formerly Senate Bill 1202, will require medical professionals to receive continuing education in pain management, identification of addiction and the use of opioids as effective treatment. The law also will require them to check the newly created prescription drug monitoring database each time a patient is dispensed an opioid or controlled substance and to update the database within 24 hours when issuing an opioid prescription.
•    Act 126, formerly Senate Bill 1367, will limit opioid prescriptions given to minors to a seven-day period, unless there is a medical emergency that puts the child’s health or safety at risk.
•    Act 125, formerly Senate Bill 1368, will call for a medical training facility to implement key opioid-related curriculum.

Representative Dave Reed
62nd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives