LANY to Meet with Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement

The I-STOP law would require prescribers to consult a database prior to prescribing Schedule II, III, and IV controlled substances. This requirement would go into effect Aug. 27, 2013. The law is being enacted to promote the safe and effective use of prescription drugs and to curb the diversion and abuse of these drugs. The present prescription monitoring system will be enhanced to include information about dispensed controlled drugs in "real-time."  There are some exemptions in the bill. At this time a practitioner prescribing a controlled substance on the premises of an institutional dispenser is exempt. As most nursing homes have class 3a licenses we are trying to determine if this exemption would apply. If it does not, then the impact on nursing homes would be significant. We would anticipate that residents being discharged from a facility would be individuals where the registry would have to be accessed. Regulations are expected to be issued in July and would likely be issued as emergency regulations. 

Contact:  Elliott Frost, efrost@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8832