Requires practitioners to discuss certain risks with a patient who is being prescribed a controlled substance or an opioid analgesic

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Linda Rosenthal

Practitioners prescribing controlled substances or opioids must discuss specific risks with patients, boosting awareness and informed decision-making.

REFERRED TO HEALTH

Summary: Bill A 9010 — Requires practitioners to discuss certain risks with patients prescribed a controlled substance or opioid analgesic

Overview

Bill number: A 9010

Title: Requires practitioners to discuss certain risks with a patient who is being prescribed a controlled substance or an opioid analgesic

Status: Referenced to the Health Committee

Introduced: August 13, 2025

Sponsor (primary): Linda Rosenthal

Companion bill: S 6758 (Senate), listed as a companion bill

Purpose and intent

The bill would compel health professionals who are prescribing controlled substances or opioid analgesics to engage in a discussion with the patient about certain risks associated with those medications. The stated aim is to improve patient awareness and informed decision-making regarding opioid or controlled-substance therapy.

Key provisions (what the bill would do)

The core requirement: Practitioners must discuss specified risks with patients who are being prescribed a controlled substance or an opioid analgesic.

Important note: The summary provided does not include the full text, so the exact scope of the discussion (which risks are covered, when the discussion must occur, whether it applies to renewals or initial prescriptions, documentation requirements, exemptions, or enforcement mechanisms) is not specified here.

Related procedural elements (e.g., duration of discussion, documentation, patient acknowledgment, or training requirements) would be detailed in the full bill text.

Who is affected

Prescribing professionals: Physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other licensed practitioners who prescribe controlled substances or opioids.

Patients: Individuals receiving prescriptions for controlled substances or opioid analgesics, who would be recipients of the required risk discussion.

Legislative timeline and process

Actions: 2025-08-13 — REFERRED TO HEALTH (listed twice in the provided actions)

Status implication: The bill is in committee (Health) and has not advanced to floor consideration yet.

Companion status: A Senate companion exists (S 6758), which often indicates parallel consideration in the Senate chamber.

Potential impact

Public health impact: If adopted, could enhance patient understanding of medication risks, potentially influencing safer use, adherence, and informed consent.

Practitioner impact: May introduce new duties for prescribers, possibly including documentation and compliance requirements.

Implementation considerations: Until the full text is available, specifics on exemptions, enforcement, and funding for any required programs are unknown.

Next steps for readers

Monitor the Health Committee's hearings and any amendments to A 9010.

Compare with the companion Senate bill S 6758 for a fuller sense of the provisions and potential differences.

Review the full bill text when available to understand exact requirements, timelines, and any exemptions or penalties.