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The Controlled Substances Bill is Florida’s response to opioid abuse. Click on the appropriate tab for more information.
Telemedicine to Combat Opioid Abuse
Frequently Asked Questions
This website provides basic information pertaining to CS/CS/HB 21, the Controlled Substances Bill, and the upcoming changes for prescribers and dispensers. Signed by the Governor on March 19, 2018 with an effective date of July 1, 2018, the law addresses opioid abuse by establishing prescribing limits, requiring continuing education on controlled substance prescribing, expanding required use of Florida’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, EFORCSE, and more.
Florida Board of Dentistry
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In an effort to combat the national opioid epidemic in Florida, in March 2018 Governor Rick Scott signed legislation creating new limits on schedule II prescriptions for pain medication. In 2019, Hb 549, amended Florida Statute 466.0135 making Continuing Education on the Safe and Effective Prescription of Controlled Substances required at each renewal for all Dentists, except Dental Residency Permits and Dental Teaching Permits. Use the quick links on the right for additional information.
Florida Board of Medicine
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Section 456.0301, Florida Statutes, requires all physicians who are registered with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and authorized to prescribe controlled substances to complete a board approved 2-hour course on prescribing controlled substances. These CME organizations have been approved by the Board to provide the course:
- Florida Medical Association
- Florida Academy of Family Physicians
- Florida College of Emergency Physicians
- Baptist Health South Florida/Quality Network
- Florida Psychiatric Society
- Florida Osteopathic Medical Association
- The Doctor’s Company
- Mag Mutual Insurance Company
- InforMed Independent Physician Association, Inc.
- University of Florida
- Medical Educational Council of Pensacola
- TeamHealth Institute
- NetCE
- CE Group
- AchieveCE
To search for the courses, go to https://cebroker.com/.
Use the quick links on the right for additional information.
Florida Board of Nursing
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**Note: The 3 hour course must be offered by a statewide professional association of physicians in this state accredited to provide educational activities designated for the American Medical Association Physician’s Recognition Award Category 1 credit, the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.**
In an effort to combat the national opioid epidemic in Florida, in March 2018 Governor Rick Scott signed legislation creating new limits on schedule II prescriptions for pain medication. Continuing Education on the Safe and Effective Prescription of Controlled Substances is required at each renewal for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. Use the quick links on the right for additional information.
Florida Board of Optometry
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**NOTE: The ONLY approved CE providers are: (1) The Florida Medical Association, (2) Florida Osteopathic Medical Association, (3) Florida Academy of Family Physicians, (4) InforMed, and (5) Emergency Medicine Learning & Resource Center.
Click Here for the Mandatory CE Course
All licensed and certified optometrists who registered with the DEA are authorized to administer and prescribe, are impacted by the changes in the Controlled Substances Bill.
There are four key changes in the law for all certified optometrists. They include:
- A requirement that a certified optometrist take a Board-approved 2-hour CE course on prescribing controlled substances;
- Prescription supply limits for the treatment of acute pain that may not exceed 3 days or up to a 7 day supply in special circumstances;
- The Florida Board of Optometry develop guidelines for prescribing controlled substances for acute pain; and
- Mandatory requirement for all certified optometrists to utilize the PDMP for the prescribing or dispensing of controlled substances.
Use the quick links on the right for additional information.
Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine
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**NOTE: The ONLY approved CE providers are:
(1) The Florida Medical Association,
(2) Florida Osteopathic Medical Association,
(3) Florida Academy of Family Physicians,
(4) Emergency Medicine Learning & Resource Center,
(5) Baptist Health South Florida and
(6) Informed Independent Physician Association, Inc.
Click Here for the Mandatory CE Course
All licensed Osteopathic Physicians who are registered with the DEA and authorized to prescribe controlled substances, including Full License holders, Limited License holders, Temporary Certificate holders, and Residents, are impacted by the changes made by the Controlled Substances Bill.
There are four key changes in the law. They include:
- A requirement to take a Board-approved 2-hour CE course on prescribing controlled substances by January 31, 2019, and during each renewal thereafter;
- Prescription supply limits for the treatment of acute pain that may not exceed 3 days or up to a 7 day supply in special circumstances;
- The Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine is required to develop guidelines for prescribing controlled substances for acute pain; and
- A requirement for all practitioners to utilize the PDMP for the prescribing or dispensing of controlled substances.
Use the quick links on the right for additional information.
Florida Board of Pharmacy
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Pharmacists are affected by the changes in the Controlled Substances Bill in three major ways:
- Pharmacists will need to educate themselves regarding the changes to certain prescribing limits on controlled substances;
- Pharmacists will also need to familiarize themselves with new rules to be adopted by prescribing practitioners which establish guidelines for use of controlled substances for treatment of acute pain; and
- Pharmacists will be required to report to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) system when dispensing controlled substances to a patient.
Use the quick links on the right for additional information.
Florida Board of Podiatric Medicine
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**NOTE: For a list of approved CE Providers and courses, visit CE Brokers website by Clicking Here
Podiatric Physicians are affected by the changes in the Controlled Substances Bill in four major ways:
- Podiatric Physicians are required to take a board-approved mandatory Continuing Education course on prescribing controlled substances;
- As prescribing practitioners, Podiatric Physicians are subject to certain prescribing limits on controlled substances;
- Podiatric Physicians will need to adopt rules establishing guidelines for prescribing controlled substances for treatment of acute pain; and
- Podiatric Physicians will be required to report to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) system when dispensing controlled substances to a patient
Use the quick links on the right for additional information.