1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Safe Prescribing Act of 2013”.
Safe Prescribing Act of 2013
A BILL
To amend the Controlled Substances Act to make any substance containing hydrocodone a schedule II drug.
2. Hydrocodone amendment
In general— Schedule III(d) in section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812) is amended by—
striking paragraphs (3) and (4); and
redesignating paragraphs (5), (6), (7), and (8) as paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and (6), respectively.
Effective date— The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act.
3. Physical security requirements
Notwithstanding the amendments made by section 2, the Attorney General shall immediately, without regard to chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code, amend section 1301.72 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, relating to the physical security controls for non-practitioners, narcotic treatment programs and compounders for narcotic treatment programs, and storage areas for controlled substances, to allow, for the 3-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, manufacturers and distributors to store hydrocodone combination products in accordance with the physical security requirements for schedule III, IV, and V controlled substances.
4. GAO report
In general— Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the reclassification of hydrocodone products under this Act.
Contents— The report required under subsection (a) shall include—
an assessment of the degree to which the reclassification of hydrocodone products under this Act impacts the ability of patients with legitimate medical needs, particularly those in rural areas and nursing home facilities, to access adequate pain management; and
recommendations necessary to address issues, if any, relating to patient access to adequate pain management.