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Special commission on appropriate use of opiate medications

SECTION 232.   There shall be a special commission to study and establish recommendations to promote the safe and appropriate use of opiate medications by patients that may be employed by state agencies and the private sector companies who provide insurance coverage. The commission shall consist of: the secretary of administration and finance or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the commissioner of public health or a designee; the commissioner of insurance or a designee; the director of Medicaid or a designee; the executive director of the group insurance commission or a designee; and 3 members appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a representative from The Massachusetts Hospital Association, Inc., 1 of whom shall be a representative from the Massachusetts Medical Society and 1 of whom shall be a representative from the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, Inc. The commission shall examine best practices currently used in the public and private sector to ensure patient safety through prescription monitoring of opiates including, but not limited to, prior authorization requirements, restrictions on prescription refills, determination of excessive use, addiction assessments, the need for substance abuse treatment plans and data collection practices. The commission shall file its report and recommendations with the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives, the chairs of the joint committee on health care financing and the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means by January 15, 2015.