New Jersey signs Five-Day Opioid Prescription Bill into Law

Last week, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed into law Assembly Bill 3, which, among other things:

1. Limits doctors’ ability to issue first-time opioid prescriptions for more than five days;

2. Mandates that doctors create a pain-management treatment plan regarding the use of opioids and review prescriptions every three months; and

3. Requires doctors to obtain a written record that the doctor and patient have discussed the risks of taking opioids.

The prescription drug limit would not apply to cancer and chronic pain patients or end-of-life care.