S 844

ENROLLED
2026 Legislature  CS for SB 844
  2026844er
1
2An act relating to sickle cell disease care management
3and treatment continuing education; amending s.
4456.0301, F.S.; revising requirements for a continuing
5education course on prescribing controlled substances
6which health care practitioners are required to
7complete; providing an effective date.
8
9Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
10
11Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
12456.0301, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
13456.0301 Requirement for instruction on controlled
14substance prescribing.—
15(1)(a) The appropriate board shall require each person
16registered with the United States Drug Enforcement
17Administration and authorized to prescribe controlled substances
18pursuant to 21 U.S.C. s. 822 to complete a board-approved 2-hour
19continuing education course on prescribing controlled substances
20offered by a statewide professional association of physicians in
21this state that is accredited to provide educational activities
22designated for the American Medical Association Physician’s
23Recognition Award Category 1 Credit or the American Osteopathic
24Category 1-A continuing medical education credit as part of
25biennial license renewal. The course must include information on
26the current standards for prescribing controlled substances,
27particularly opiates; alternatives to these standards;
28nonpharmacological therapies; prescribing emergency opioid
29antagonists; [and] the risks of opioid addiction following all
30stages of treatment in the management of acute pain; and the
31treatment of pain for patients with sickle cell disease. The
32course may be offered in a distance learning format and must be
33included within the number of continuing education hours
34required by law. The department may not renew the license of any
35prescriber registered with the United States Drug Enforcement
36Administration to prescribe controlled substances who has failed
37to complete the course. The course must be completed by January
3831, 2019, and at each subsequent renewal. This paragraph does
39not apply to a licensee who is required by his or her applicable
40practice act to complete a minimum of 2 hours of continuing
41education on the safe and effective prescribing of controlled
42substances.
43Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.