Gov. Christie impose pain pill limit: 5 days for initial RX despite N.J. docs objections

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

What a nightmare....All in the name of opiod addiction prevention.... what a nightmare for NJ home health nurses for patients with new acute pain due to fracture, new cancer DX, post surgery, Sickle cell crisis..... will just drive up ER business. Fifteen day limit would be more reasonable. Some PCP in Philly/NJ area have 30+ days before patient can get appointment post hospitalization! Karen

Philadelphia Inquirer

Jan 19, 2017

Andrew Seidman

Christie set to impose pain pill limits despite N.J. doctors' objections

TRENTON - Gov. Christie wants to tackle opioid addiction by limiting the number of pills physicians can initially prescribe - an idea experts say could reduce excess supply but may cause some pain patients to go days without medication.

Christie, a Republican serving the last year of his second term, last week ordered new rules that would limit doctors to writing initial prescriptions for five days' worth of opioid-based medications, down from 30.

The regulation would apply to patients with acute pain, such as a broken wrist, not those with chronic pain. Following a consultation, either by phone or in person, doctors could prescribe more opioids, such as oxycodone and fentanyl, to acute-care patients....

...Half of those who abuse the drugs report getting them from a friend or relative, according to 2013-14 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

"Many prescriptions may be written for clinically appropriate purposes and still inadvertently contribute to the epidemic because they go unused and ultimately are given or sold to friends or family members," he said

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Gotta love how those who have no medical knowledge are essentially making medical decisions.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Gotta love how those who have no medical knowledge are essentially making medical decisions.

I don't think there is anything unreasonable about this though I didn't think the governor could just go ahead and do something like this. As a law it would have gone through the New Jersey legislature and passed before being sent to the governor to be signed unto law. Most severe injuries (Ones bad enough to require narcotic pain relief) should be seen by the patient's Primary Care physician or other specialist within 7 days. I have never had a problem getting an appointment within 7 days from an ER visit. It might be scheduled at an inconvenient time for me - but my doc can usually squeeze me in. I was in a bad car accident in October of last year and my car was totaled, jaws of life employed I was bruised all over and concussed. The ER doc wrote me a script for 10 Vicodin and 10 flexoril. When I got home I e-mailed my doctor (Kaiser is wonderful) and she approved a script for 30 days. I saw her in the office 4 days later.

The law does say that a physician can prescribe after either an in-person or telephone appointment so I really don't see the problem.

Hppy

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I hate republicans, but I cannot disagree with this law.

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10 days might have been better, but we need more of this legislation in other states as well. Especially the states with more prescription drug abuse.

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I hate republicans...

Wow! And they call us intolerant and non-inclusive.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

So the party of small government wants government to play doctor.

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Specializes in Hospice.
Wow! And they call us intolerant and non-inclusive.

That poster recently tried to ignite similar fireworks in the breakroom. Don't bite.

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Specializes in Hospice.
So the party of small government wants government to play doctor.

This, on the other hand, is a valid criticism, in my opinion.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.
Wow! And they call us intolerant and non-inclusive.

wait, who is us?

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

I happen to have seen a video in which Christie tells a powerful story about a close friend of his who was undone by prescription narcotics. His friend was a classmate of his; professional, athlete, with wife, kids, house in the suburbs ect. His friend ended up dying homeless, literally the worst case outcome. Although I don't agree with a politician necessarily dipping into this pool, his story makes his passion for this issue clear. It's a bold move and I will be interested to see how it affects this issue.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Uh ... remember this is the same NJ Governor Christie who quarantined Kaci Hickox, MSN, MPH, RN nurse for that new Ebola virus outbreak some few years back.

She was 'imprisoned' into a tent in a hospital parking lot as she was alighting from an airplane. It was in chilly weather and there was no running water and quasi toileting accommodations. Epid literature and professional experts held that she was being overly exploited in her treatment.

Christie, having NO healthcare creds, bullied her into FORCED confinement, even AFTER correct info was being offered.

So, is it any wonder that he's doing it again?

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