asset: state-opioid-prescribing-limits

asset_type: prescribing-limit

body: Maximum days' supply for a first opioid prescription for acute pain, by state, with the statutory or regulatory citation. Over half the states cap initial prescriptions at 3 to 14 days; some also cap daily dosage in morphine milligram equivalents (MME).

key_field: state

licence: public-law

title: State Opioid Initial Prescribing Limits

type: dataset


applies_to: Schedule II opioids for acute pain

body:
**state:** Florida

**initial_supply_days:** 3-day supply (up to 7-day supply with ACUTE PAIN EXCEPTION)

**applies_to:** Schedule II opioids for acute pain

**exception_provision:** Up to a 7-day supply may be prescribed if the prescriber believes more than a 3-day supply is medically necessary, indicates "ACUTE PAIN EXCEPTION" on the prescription, and documents the acute medical condition and lack of alternative treatment options in the patient's medical records

**mme_limit:** none

**effective_date:** 2018

**citation:** F.S. 456.44(5)

> 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 | The Florida Statutes |

Source: <https://leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0456/Sections/0456.44.html>

state: Florida

title: Florida — State Opioid Initial Prescribing Limits

type: prescribing-limit

unverified_fields: applies_to, citation, exception_provision, initial_supply_days, mme_limit


body:
**state:** Massachusetts

**initial_supply_days:** 7-day supply

**applies_to:** All opiates, first-time prescription for adults; all opiate prescriptions for minors

**exception_provision:** If, in the professional medical judgment of a practitioner, more than a 7-day supply of an opiate is required to treat the adult or minor patient's acute medical condition or is necessary for the treatment of chronic pain management, pain associated with a cancer diagnosis or for palliative care, then the practitioner may issue a prescription for the quantity needed. The condition must be documented in the patient's medical record and the practitioner shall indicate that a non-opiate alternative was not appropriate.

**mme_limit:** none

**effective_date:** 2016

**citation:** Ch. 94C § 19D

> 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 Go to Session Law <https://malegislature.gov/Laws/Constitution> Massachusetts

Source: <https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXV/Chapter94C/Section19D>

citation: Ch. 94C § 19D

initial_supply_days: 7-day supply

state: Massachusetts

title: Massachusetts — State Opioid Initial Prescribing Limits


body:
**state:** Minnesota

**initial_supply_days:** 7-day supply for adults; 5-day supply for minors under 18; 4-day supply for acute dental pain or acute pain associated with refractive surgery

**applies_to:** Opiates or narcotic pain relievers listed in Schedules II through IV, for treatment of acute pain

**exception_provision:** If, in the professional clinical judgment of a practitioner, more than the limit is required to treat a patient's acute pain, the practitioner may issue a prescription for the quantity needed to treat the patient's acute pain

**mme_limit:** none

**effective_date:** 2017

**citation:** Minn. Stat. § 152.11, subd. 4

> <https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2017/1/6/#laws.12.2.0> 1Sp2017 c 6 art 12 s 2 ; <https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2019/0/63/#laws.2.6.0> 2019 c 63 art 2 s 6 -8; <https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2020/0/71/#laws.2.8.0> 2020 c 71 art 2 s 8 ; <https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2023/0/63/#laws.4.22.0> 2023 c 63 art 4 s 22 Official Publication of the State of Minnesota

Source: <https://revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/152.11>

citation: Minn. Stat. § 152.11, subd. 4

state: Minnesota

title: Minnesota — State Opioid Initial Prescribing Limits


body:
**state:** Virginia

**initial_supply_days:** 14-day supply

**applies_to:** Opioids for acute pain and subacute pain

**exception_provision:** May exceed 14-day supply if extenuating circumstances are clearly documented in the medical record

**mme_limit:** Practitioner shall carefully consider and document reasons to exceed 50 MME/day; prior to exceeding 120 MME/day, shall document reasonable justification or refer to a pain management specialist

**effective_date:** August 8, 2018

**citation:** 18VAC85-21-40

> A prescriber providing treatment for acute or subacute pain shall not prescribe a controlled substance containing an opioid in a quantity that exceeds a 14-day supply, unless extenuating circumstances are clearly documented in the medical record.

Source: <https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency85/chapter21/section40/>

effective_date: August 8, 2018

initial_supply_days: 14-day supply

state: Virginia

title: Virginia — State Opioid Initial Prescribing Limits

unverified_fields: mme_limit, state