North Dakota lawmakers passed a bill to cap the amount and duration of opioids and benzodiazepine that can be prescribed to injured workers in the state.
H.B. 1139, which the House unanimously passed Wednesday, would modify North Dakota state code to limit the duration of opioid and benzodiazepine therapy to no more than 90 morphine milligram equivalents of opioid per day for a seven-day period during the initial 30-day period of therapy and no benzodiazepine therapy beyond a cumulative duration of four weeks except for the treatment of an anxiety disorder.
The change would not apply to individuals in cancer treatment, end-of-life care or hospice, assisted living facilities, inpatient hospital care, emergency rooms or substance abuse disorder treatment.
The legislation states that injured workers who receive therapy in excess of the limits outlined in the bill have until July 1, 2022, to comply with the prescribed limits.
The bill will go to the state Senate for consideration.
