Rhode Island General Laws
Article III - Regulation of Manufacturing, Distributing, Prescribing, Administering, and Dispensing Controlled Substances
Section 21-28-3.20.1. - Authority of practitioner to prescribe, administer, and dispense — Cancer, palliative care and chronic intractable pain.

§ 21-28-3.20.1. Authority of practitioner to prescribe, administer, and dispense — Cancer, palliative care and chronic intractable pain.
(a) A practitioner, in good faith and in the course of his or her professional practice managing pain associated with a cancer diagnosis, palliative or nursing home care, intractable or chronic intractable pain as provided in § 5-37.4-2, or other condition allowed by department of health regulations pursuant to the exception in § 21-28-3.20(d), may prescribe, administer, and dispense controlled substances without regard to the 2016 CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain.
(b) The director of health may promulgate those rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the provisions of this section and ensure that rules governing pain management associated with a cancer diagnosis, palliative or nursing home care, intractable or chronic intractable pain as provided in § 5-37.4-2, or other condition allowed by department of health regulations pursuant to the exception created in § 21-28-3.20(d), shall:
(1) Take into consideration the individualized needs of patients covered by this section; and
(2) Make provisions for practitioners, acting in good faith, and in the course of their profession, and managing pain associated with their patients’ illness to use their best judgment notwithstanding any statute, rule, or regulation to the contrary.
History of Section.P.L. 2021, ch. 37, § 3, effective June 2, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 38, § 3, effective June 2, 2021.

Structure Rhode Island General Laws