Last week, the Senate voted 98-1 to pass a bipartisan bill aimed at fighting the opioid crisis, sending the measure to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law. This came after House’s 393-8 approval last Friday after House and Senate negotiators agreed to a final version following separate legislative efforts year by each house earlier this year. The 660-page “SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act” (H.R.6) includes a range of measures focused on prevention, enforcement, treatment, and recovery, all aimed at combatting the opioid epidemic.
Several provisions included in the new law touch on technology, programs and requirements, including those related to electronic prescribing of controlled substances (ePCS), electronic prior authorization requests, prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs), telemedicine, and behavioral health technology incentives. (See here for more details.)
Assuming its passage into law, NextGen Healthcare will analyze the legislation, including provisions impacting health IT and likely regulatory requirements for clinicians and EHR vendors.