Here are the most recent health care related regulatory developments as published in the New Jersey Register on March 20, 2017:

• On March 20, 2017 at 49 N.J.R. 541, the Department of Health published notice of its adoption of amendments to the Hospital licensure regulations.  The amendments require hospitals to post in a conspicuous place in each of its waiting rooms a notice about the Independent Health Care Appeals Program for members of the general public.

• On March 20, 2017 at 49 N.J.R. 547, the State Board of Dentistry published notice of its adoption of emergency amendments to its rules, and the concurrent proposal of new rules, regarding the prescribing of opioids.  The amendments impose  certain restrictions on how opioids and other Schedule II controlled dangerous substances may be prescribed, including, in cases of acute pain, prohibiting a practitioner from issuing an initial prescription for an opioid drug in a quantity exceeding a five-day supply, and requiring the prescription to be for the lowest effective dose of an immediate-releasing opioid drug.  The amendments were promulgated in response to the enactment of P.L. 2017, c. 28, which is intended to address to public health emergency arising from the prevalence of opioid prescribing, but which does not become effective until May 17, 2017.  Similar amendments and concurrent proposals of new rules were published by the Board of Medical Examiners (49 N.J.R. 552), the Board of Nursing (49 N.J.R. 558) and the Board of Optometrists (49 N.J.R. 562).