Tougher law on Florida prescription regulations goes into effect July 1st; what you need to know

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - May 16, 2018 - PRLog -- On March 19^th of this year Florida Governor Rick Scott signed a new bill into law which amends the original prescription drug reporting law that went into effect back in 2011. This new law, known as HB 21 (House Bill 21), adds "a significant number of legal requirements on healthcare practitioners who prescribe controlled substances, particularly opioids," according to an article on the new law published by the Florida Medical Association's General (Legal) Counsel Jeff Scott.

The new law goes into effect on July 1^st of this year, in less than two months. As a state of Florida's approved Counterfeit-Proof prescription company we at Print It Plus believe it is extremely important to share this with not only our many current healthcare practitioner clients, but also with anyone who works in the healthcare field in Florida.

"Effective July 1, 2018, section 456.44, Florida Statutes, was amended to require health care practitioners who prescribe controlled substance to indicate directly on the prescription pad if the prescription is for the treatment of pain other than acute paid. The bill specifically states the prescriber must indicate "NONACUTE PAIN" on a prescription for an opioid drug listed as a Schedule II controlled substance or indicate "ACUTE PAIN EXCEPTION" if the prescription is for the treatment of acute pain with exceptions as specified in section 456.44, Florida Statutes.

To assist in the implementation of this bill, the State of Florida Department of Health, Division of Medical Health Assurance created a sample prescription pad to include a place for health care practitioners to indicate "NONACUTE PAIN" or "ACUTE PAIN EXCEPTION" when appropriate.

As an approved Counterfeit-Proof Prescription Pad Vendor we are required to add this indicator to new prescription pads produced for health care practitioners who prescribe control substances in Florida. Health care practitioner are not required to destroy prescription pads already purchased. They can hand write the words "NONACUTE PAIN" or "ACUTE PAIN EXCEPTION" directly on the prescription pad until they are ready to reorder," https://flrxpads.com/

This new law makes it a crime for healthcare practitioners with a Florida license who are registered with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and are authorized to prescribe controlled substances to be in noncompliance. Furthermore, each person who is properly registered "shall complete a board-approved two-hour continuing education (CE) course on prescribing controlled substances. The Florida Medical Association (FMA) is authorized by HB 21 to provide this two-hour mandatory requirement for MDs and DOs."

For more information on this now-required continuing education course go to: https://flmedical.inreachce.com/Details?groupId=c64bbce1-c037-4008-b6bd-1204fd149224

IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING CONTINUING EDUCATION: HB 21 requires that all certified prescribers must complete this Controlled Substance Prescribing course for the first time by no later than January 31, 2019. They will then be required to take the course again each time they renew their license with the DEA and the state of Florida, every two years.

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About Print It Plus:

Print It Plus has been a state of Florida-approved Counterfeit-Proof prescription printing company since 2011. As such we are able to prepare all of your prescription needs quickly and accurately. We offer Free Delivery to Most Commercial locations from Delray Beach to Jupiter, and Express Next Day shipping anywhere in the state of Florida. We have all types of one and two-part standard and secure prescription pads and laser sheets available for you to order.

Print It Plus also offers a myriad of services to help you grow your medical practice by finding the best marketing and advertising products and services for your particular targeted patient base, in Palm Beach County and throughout the entire state. We are able to provide virtually any product or service imaginable to communicate with your patients, clients, employees, stockholders, and/or vendors.  We are experts at corporate identity pieces, branding, marketing, printing stationery, business cards and design in addition to state approved Counterfeit-Proof Rx pads. For more information about Print It Plus, contact Kimberly Leland at kim@printitplus.com, by calling (561) 790-0884, or go to our website at HTTP://WWW.FLRXPADS.COM.

Also, used the following link:

https://www.flmedical.org/florida/