- New law passed, effective July 1, 2018:
- Law specifics:
- Pharmacists can only partially fill a prescription for no more than half of the number of days its written for
- General prescriptions limited to 10-day supply (no more than 500 MME)
- After surgery limited to 20-day supply (maximum 850 MME)
- “Medical necessity” prescriptions limited to 30-day supply (maximum 1200 MME)
- Effective July 1, but mandatory Jan 1, 2019
- Must check state PDMP – checked with initial prescription, and at least every 6 months as long as getting refills
- Must document reason for prescription in medical record
- 3-day supply (maximum 180 MME) without restrictions
- Some exceptions: palliative cancer treatments or hospice care, sickle cell disease, inpatients at licensed facilities, seen by deemed “pain management specialists” as per state rules, those treated with opioids for more than 90 days or more; severe burns of “major physical trauma”, and those on methadone, buprenorphine or naltrexone
- Tennessee government policy center for opioids and prescribing guidelines
- Tennessee Chronic Pain Guidelines
- Law specifics: