A New Hampshire subcommittee voted to review a bill addressing the guidelines for prescribing opioids early in the 2016 session. The subcommittee hopes an agreement can be reached among the bill sponsors before lawmakers have to vote on it, according to New Hampshire Union Leader.
Here are five points:
1. On Thursday, three New Hampshire Medical Society members told the legislative task force medical regulatory board should determine the guidelines for prescribing opioids, as opposed to lawmakers.
2. The bill would require six regulatory boards to adopt rules governing opioid prescriptions. Supporters of the bill counter physicians are prescribing too many opioids.
3. Some physicians advocate the guidelines be in medical board rules, rather than making the guidelines law.
4. Others say the abuse epidemic in the state has escalated and more provisions are needed to combat the problem.
5. On Tuesday, the task force will meet to review the subcommittee's recommendations. Sen. Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, task force chairman, said the task force has created a "comprehensive approach to resolve, solve and curtail the heroin crisis we have in this state."
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