House Bill 79

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 41-29-305, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PRESCRIBED OXYCONTIN (OXYCODONE) UNITS TO ANY PATIENT IN EXCESS OF SEVENTY-FIVE UNITS PER PRESCRIPTION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 41-29-305, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

41-29-305. A physician or a dentist, in good faith and in the course of his professional practice only, may prescribe, administer, dispense, mix or otherwise prepare narcotic drugs, or he may cause the same to be administered by a nurse or interne under his direction and supervision.

A veterinarian, in good faith and in the course of his professional practice only, and not for use by human beings, may prescribe, administer, dispense, mix or otherwise prepare narcotic drugs, and he may cause them to be administered by an assistant or orderly under his direction and supervision.

Any person who has obtained from a physician, dentist, or veterinarian any narcotic drug for administration to a patient during the absence of such physician, dentist, or veterinarian, shall return to such physician, dentist, or veterinarian any unused portion of such drug, when it is no longer required by the patient.

If the narcotic prescribed under this section is oxycontin (oxycodone), or a generic form thereof, the prescribing physician, dentist or veterinarian shall not prescribe to any patient more than seventy-five (75) units per prescription, unless the patient is admitted to a hospital or is a resident of a nursing facility licensed under Section 43-11-1 et seq. The limitation on prescribed units under this paragraph shall also apply to any pharmacists dispensing medication or an assistant or orderly under his direction and supervision.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.