During a drug overdose, a quick response can save a life. However, people illegally using drugs sometimes fail to seek medical attention during an overdose for fear of alerting the police to their illegal drug use.
In order to prioritize saving lives, Michigan passed a Good Samaritan law in 2016.
Michigan’s Good Samaritan law prevents drug possession charges against those that seek medical assistance for an overdose in certain circumstances. This law makes saving lives the priority during a drug overdose, not criminal prosecutions of illegal drug users.
Public Act 246 of 2017
Requires the disclosure of prescription opioid information and risks to minors and patients, beginning 6/1/18.
Public Act 247 of 2017
Requires prescribers to be in a bona fide prescriber-patient relationship prior to prescribing Schedules 2-5 controlled substances. These provisions were due to take effect on 3/31/18, however the implementation date has been pushed back by Public Act 101 of 2018.
Public Act 248 of 2017
Requires the review of MAPS prior to prescribing or dispensing to a patient a controlled substance in a quantity that exceeds a 3-day supply, beginning 6/1/18. Further, the act requires that a licensed prescriber be registered with MAPS prior to prescribing or dispensing a controlled substance to a patient, beginning 6/1/18.
Public Act 249 of 2017
Provides sanctions for failing to comply with the new MAPS usage mandates, failure to establish bona fide prescriber-patient relationships, and failure to inform patients regarding the risks associated with the prescription of opioid drugs.
Public Act 250 of 2017
Requires health professionals that treat patients for opioid-related overdoses to provide such patients with information regarding Substance Use Disorder Services, beginning 3/27/18.
Public Act 251 or 2017
Requires prescribers treating for acute pain to not prescribe such patients with more than a 7-day supply of an opioid within a 7-day period, beginning 7/1/18.
Public Act 252 of 2017
Provides that before dispensing or prescribing buprenorphine or a drug containing buprenorphine and methadone to a patient in a substance use disorder program, the prescriber shall review a MAPS report on the patient, beginning 3/27/18.
Public Act 253 of 2017
Codifies Medicaid coverage for detox programs, beginning 3/27/18.
Public Act 254 of 2017
Requires the Prescription Drug and Opioid Abuse Commission (PDOAC) to develop for Michigan's Department of Education (MDE) recommendations for the instruction of pupils on the dangers of prescription opioid drug abuse, by 7/1/18.
Public Act 255 of 2017
Requires MDE to make available to school districts a model program of instruction on the dangers of prescription opioid abuse, developed or adopted by the PDOAC, by 7/1/19. Further, beginning in the 2019-2020 school year, MDE shall ensure that the state include within its health education standards, instruction on prescription opioid drug abuse.
Public Act 101 of 2018
Pushes back the effective date for the bona fide prescriber-patient relationship requirement to 3/31/19, on the date on which rules are promulgated.