Bill would require opioid CME for docs

A bill introduced recently by Sen. Jay Rockefeller, (D-West Virginia) would require physicians and other healthcare providers seeking to obtain or renew a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration registration number to complete CME related to responsible opioid prescribing practices.

In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now is requiring manufacturers of long-acting and extended-release opioids to develop a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy, including educational materials for prescribers as well as materials for use when counseling patients.

The CME called for in the bill would be 16 hours of training every 3 years on treatment and management of opioid-dependent patients, pain management treatment guidelines, and early detection of opioid addiction.