Alaska § 08.68.705 - Maximum dosage for opioid prescriptions.

§ 08.68.705. Maximum dosage for opioid prescriptions.

 (a) An advanced practice registered nurse may not issue        (1) an initial prescription for an opioid that exceeds a seven-day supply to an adult patient for outpatient use;

 (2) a prescription for an opioid that exceeds a seven-day supply to a minor; at the time an advanced practice registered nurse writes a prescription for an opioid for a minor, the advanced practice registered nurse shall discuss with the parent or guardian of the minor why the prescription is necessary and the risks associated with opioid use.

 (b) Notwithstanding (a) of this section, an advanced practice registered nurse may issue a prescription for an opioid that exceeds a seven-day supply to an adult or minor patient if, in the professional judgment of the advanced practice registered nurse, more than a seven-day supply of an opioid is necessary for        (1) the patient's acute medical condition, chronic pain management, pain associated with cancer, or pain experienced while the patient is in palliative care; the advanced practice registered nurse may write a prescription for an opioid for the quantity needed to treat the patient's medical condition, chronic pain, pain associated with cancer, or pain experienced while the patient is in palliative care; the advanced practice registered nurse shall document in the patient's medical record the condition triggering the prescription of an opioid in a quantity that exceeds a seven-day supply and indicate that a nonopioid alternative was not appropriate to address the medical condition; or

 (2) a patient who is unable to access a practitioner within the time necessary for a refill of the seven-day supply because of a logistical or travel barrier; the advanced practice registered nurse may write a prescription for an opioid for the quantity needed to treat the patient for the time that the patient is unable to access a practitioner; the advanced practice registered nurse shall document in the patient's medical record the reason for the prescription of an opioid in a quantity that exceeds a seven-day supply and indicate that a nonopioid alternative was not appropriate to address the medical condition; in this paragraph, “practitioner” has the meaning given in AS 11.71.900 .

 (c) This section does not authorize an advanced practice registered nurse to prescribe a controlled substance if the advanced practice registered nurse is not otherwise authorized to prescribe a controlled substance under policies, procedures, or regulations issued or adopted by the board.

 (d) In this section,        (1) “adult” means             (A) an individual who has reached 18 years of age; or

 (B) an emancipated minor;

 (2) “emancipated minor” means a minor whose disabilities have been removed for general purposes under AS 09.55.590 ;

 (3) “minor” means an individual under 18 years of age who is not an emancipated minor.