New Jersey law limits initial opioid prescriptions to five days

New Jersey has enacted what its governor calls the strictest anti-opioid law in the country, affecting how long the length of initial prescriptions and waiving prior authorization requirements for those seeking treatment for addiction.

Under the law, physicians can only prescribe opioids for patients using them for the first time for five days, down from 30. Certain patients will be exempt, like those in the middle of cancer, palliative, or hospice care, but other patients who may experience pain, like post-surgical patients, will be subject to the five-day limit.

Doctors will also have to discuss the dangers of addiction when prescribing opioid painkillers and other health care professionals will receive extra training on opioid-related topics.

For insurers, they’ll be required to cover up to 180 of addiction treatment, either inpatient or outpatient, without preauthorization.

“When a person who is in the throes of addiction as you know realizes he or she needs help, they should not be blocked at the treatment center doors with their life hanging in the balance, because their insurance carrier requires a pre-evaluation that could take weeks to complete,” said New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie after he signed the bill. “Now, with this legislation, people seeking treatment cannot be denied access in their time of need.”

New Jersey is the 10^th state to enact a law limiting initial opioid prescriptions to seven days or less, as had been recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in March 2016.

Christie had pushed for the legislation, citing the more than 1,600 opioid overdose deaths in the state last year. The Medical Society of New Jersey had initially objected to the proposal, saying it opposed lawmakers’ “intrusion into the practice of medicine.” Once the bill was signed, the society had a more muted ton while still expressing reservations about meddling in the physician-patient relationship.

“The Medical Society of New Jersey will monitor the effect of the new law on post-op patients, as well as pain patients and those in recovery. We hope to avoid the unintended consequences of access issues for any patients suffering from pain or increases in illegal drug use, as other states have seen,” the group said in a statement to HealthExec.

The lone legislator to vote against the bill believed there would be backlash from insurers about the new requirements.

“The sponsors have no idea how much the bill is going to cost taxpayers and they have no idea how much the insurance mandate will increase the cost of health insurance in the state,” Republican Assemblyman Jay Webber said to NorthJersey.com. “A mandate like this will increase premiums and so we’re going to have fewer people with health insurance at all.”