State specific laws on controlled substance prescribing

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State: *Florida*

  1. The State Specific Guidelines for Prescribing Controlled Substances & Medical Devicesassignment is worth 125 points and will be graded on the quality of required components as summarized in the directions and grading criteria/rubric.
  2. Follow the directions and the grading criteria located in the rubric closely. Any questions about this assignment may be posted under the Q & A Forum or emailed to your faculty.
  3. The document provided should be used and your answers provided within the table provided on this document Links to an external site..
  4. Sources/links should be obtained directly from the state’s regulatory organization(s).
  5. It is recommended that you keep a copy of this assignment to provide to potential employers or your Board of Nursing to demonstrate your knowledge of your state laws.

Requirements:

  1. Guidelines and recommendations for your state:
    In response to the opioid epidemic, individual states have developed and adopted voluntary guidelines or recommendations for the treatment of acute and chronic non-cancer pain. Based on research done on the state where you will practice clinically, include the following:

    1. Provide the name of your practicing state’s organization, group or task force that created guidelines or recommendations for pain management therapies and education.
    2. Briefly describe an overview of its development and include a web address where this information can be found. If your state does not have guidelines, discuss a federal guideline. (Note: you may need to contact your state’s board of nursing, pharmacy, or medicine if you cannot locate it on your own).
    3. Some states have multiple organizations or initiatives (ex: Ohio) in place to combat the opioid epidemic and advocate for safer opioid prescribing. Explore whether your state has other resources, groups or organizations where prescribers can reference best practices for pain management treatment. If applicable, provide a brief overview of the group’s recommendations or initiatives. If your state does not have another state-specific resource, discuss the guidelines published by the American Pain Society OR Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
    4. Discuss when the use of opioids is appropriate and for what duration should they be prescribed? Provide a reference for your response. (This question is worth 13 points. 5 points for when opioids are appropriate, 5 points for a safe duration of use, and 3 points for a current edition APA formatted reference.)
  2. State specific laws on controlled substance prescribing for the nurse practitioner:
    Research your state laws on advanced practice nurses’ authority to prescribe controlled substances. Based on research done on the state where you will practice clinically, include the following:

    1. Identify the law, rule, code, or statute that describes the advanced practice nurse’s authority to prescribe controlled substances in your state.
    2. Discuss the provisions of the law, rule, code, or statute with regard to the following:
      1. Conditions or limits on prescribing schedule I-V controlled substances.
      2. Requirements (if any) in documentation for treating acute and chronic pain.
      3. Are there specific requirements for advanced practice nurses to reference the state’s prescription drug monitoring database before prescribing a controlled substance? If so, what are they?
    3. State Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP):
      Research your state’s PDMP* and provide the following information:

      1. Name of the state’s program.
      2. Website for the state PMDP.
      3. Discuss the registration requirements and process.
      4. Discuss the standards and procedures for the access and review of database information.
    4. State specific laws on medical devices prescribing for the nurse practitioner:
      Research your state laws on advanced practice nurses’ authority to prescribe medical devices.  These are also called Durable Medical Equipment (DME). Based on research done on the state where you will practice clinically, include the following:

      1. Identify the law, rule, code, or statute that describes the advanced practice nurse’s authority to prescribe medical devices or DME in your state.
      2. Discuss the provisions of the law, rule, code, or statute regarding the following:
        1. Conditions or limits on prescribing medical devices or DME.
        2. Requirements (if any) in documentation needed to support order of medical devices or DME.

State specific laws on controlled substance prescribing

Florida State Specific Guidelines for Prescribing Controlled Substances & Medical Devices

1. Guidelines and recommendations for Florida:

The guidelines and recommendations for pain management therapies and education in Florida are largely influenced by the 2018 Controlled Substances Bill (Chapter 2018-13, Laws of Florida). This legislation, signed by Governor Rick Scott, focuses on combating the opioid crisis through various measures including prescribing limits and mandatory education on controlled substance prescribing. The Florida Department of Health provides detailed information on these guidelines, which you can find here.

2. State specific laws on controlled substance prescribing for the nurse practitioner:

In Florida, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), which include nurse practitioners, are authorized to prescribe controlled substances. This was established under HB 21, which mandates specific educational requirements and sets limits on the prescribing of Schedule II opioids to a 3-day supply for acute pain, with certain exceptions allowing up to a 7-day supply. More comprehensive details on the legislative framework can be accessed through the Florida Medical Association.

3. State Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP):

Florida’s PDMP, known as E-FORCSE (Electronic-Florida Online Reporting of Controlled Substance Evaluation), requires prescribers and dispensers to consult the patient’s controlled substance dispensing history through this system before prescribing or dispensing controlled substances. Registration and further details on the operational standards and procedures can be found at the E-FORCSE website.

4. State specific laws on medical devices prescribing for the nurse practitioner:

In Florida, the prescription of Durable Medical Equipment (DME) by nurse practitioners is regulated under the same statutory framework that governs the prescription of medications. While specific statutes detailing these regulations weren’t highlighted in my search, generally, the authority to prescribe comes with the requirement to adhere to standard medical documentation practices. For detailed guidelines, checking the Florida Board of Nursing and the Florida Department of Health would be advisable.

These summaries provide an overview of the regulatory landscape in Florida concerning controlled substances and medical device prescribing by nurse practitioners. For a more detailed understanding and current updates, visiting the official state websites mentioned is recommended.

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