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Bill

S 5260

Relates to patient counseling before issuing a prescription for a schedule II opioid

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jake Ashby

Requires pre-prescription counseling for Schedule II opioids, informing patients about risks, safe use, storage/disposal, and alternatives; mandates documentation by prescribers.

REFERRED TO HEALTH
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Bill Summary · S 5260

Summary of S 5260 — Relates to patient counseling before issuing a prescription for a schedule II opioid

Overview

  • Bill number: S 5260
  • Title: Relates to patient counseling before issuing a prescription for a schedule II opioid
  • Primary sponsor: Jake Ashby
  • Status: REFERRED TO HEALTH
  • Introduced: February 20, 2025
  • Related bills (prior sessions and companion): S 7365, S 5670, S 331, S 1934, S 4870; companion A 1937

Note: The information provided does not include the bill text or specific provisions. The summary below reflects the bill’s stated purpose based on the title and the available legislative metadata.

Purpose and intent

  • The bill appears to require patient counseling before a Schedule II opioid prescription may be issued. The objective, as inferred from the title, is to ensure patients receive information about risks, benefits, safe use, and potential alternatives prior to receiving a high-risk opioid medication.

Key provisions (based on the bill’s title and typical structure)

  • Mandatory counseling: A prescriber (and/or prescribing entity) would be obligated to provide counseling to the patient before issuing a Schedule II opioid prescription.
  • Scope of counseling: While not specified in the provided information, such provisions commonly cover risks (e.g., misuse, addiction, overdose), proper dosing and administration, safe storage and disposal, potential drug interactions, dependence/tolerance, and alternatives or adjunctive therapies.
  • Documentation: The bill may require recording that counseling occurred (date, time, topics covered) in the patient’s record or a similar tracking system.
  • Exemptions and special cases: Possible carve-outs (e.g., emergency situations, minors, or certain medical contexts) are typical in this policy space, though specifics are not provided here.
  • Enforcement and penalties: No penalties are described in the information given; typical bills may address enforcement mechanisms or compliance standards, but these details are not available.

Affected parties and impacts

  • Prescribers and prescribing entities (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dentists, etc.) who issue Schedule II opioids.
  • Patients receiving Schedule II opioids, who would be recipients of counseling as a condition of prescription issuance.
  • Healthcare facilities and pharmacies involved in dispensing Schedule II opioids.
  • Possible administrative or documentation burden on providers and clinics.

Legislative status and timeline

  • Introduced and referred to the Health Committee on February 20, 2025.
  • The same referral appears twice in the legislative actions listed, indicating a standard committee referral process without additional action noted in the provided data.
  • Related bills in prior sessions and a companion bill in the Assembly (A 1937) suggest ongoing consideration of this policy approach across sessions.

Related and companion legislation

  • Related Senate bills: S 7365, S 5670, S 331, S 1934, S 4870 (all listed as prior-session references)
  • Companion: A 1937 (listed as a companion bill)

Next steps for readers

  • Monitor the Health Committee for a bill text, fiscal impact, and any amendments.
  • Review any committee hearings or sponsor testimonies for specifics on scope, exemptions, enforcement, and implementation timelines.
  • Compare with companion bill A 1937 and related Senate bills to understand converging or diverging provisions across chambers.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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