(a) Curriculum.--Beginning August 1, 2017, the licensing boards shall, by joint regulation, implement a safe prescription of a controlled substance containing an opioid curriculum. The curriculum may be offered in colleges or by providers approved by the licensing boards and shall include all of the following:
(1) Current, age-appropriate information relating to pain management.
(2) Multimodal treatments for chronic pain that minimize the use of a controlled substance containing an opioid.
(3) If a controlled substance containing an opioid is indicated, instruction on safe methods of prescribing a controlled substance containing an opioid that follow guideline-based care.
(4) Identification of patients who have risk factors for developing problems with prescription of a controlled substance containing an opioid.
(5) Training on managing substance use disorders as a chronic disease.
(b) Separation from standardized curriculum.--The education required under this chapter shall not be considered to be a mandate of the curriculum necessary for graduation. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit a college from requiring such curriculum to be necessary to graduate after August 1, 2017.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes