You are probably aware from previous emails that Rep. Kim Moser introduced House Bill 788 based on input from KYSAM. She is the chairperson of the Health Services Committee of the state legislature. The bill basically said that anyone prescribing Suboxone for medical purposes could not lose their medical license. This was meant to give practitioner some flexibility in prescribing Suboxone and decrease the fear of reprisal if higher doses are used or the regulations are not followed to the letter. The bill was introduced toward the end of thislegislative session. It was read in her Health Services Committee. Dr. Pat Murphy was able to testify. She did not bring it to a vote, so therefore the bill did not come out of committee. However, it is very positive that the bill was introduced and discussed. It received favorable response in the committee. However, Rep. Moser felt that it probably would not pass the state legislature as a whole and that the timing was not right to bring it out of committee. Hopefully, the bill will be re-introduced next legislative session, which is a longer session. That will give us more time to work with legislators and educate them on the benefits of Suboxone. We will definitely need the help of members in educating legislators about Suboxone. Most of them are not physicians or nurses, and they have pre-conceived, stigma based ideas about medications for opioid use disorder. We are very grateful to Rep. Moser for working with us and understanding our dilemma. She has always been very supportive of healthcare, mental health care and addiction care. Much of the credit for this effort goes to the work of Dr. Pat Murphy, our area 10 representative, past KYSAM, president, and interim board member.
The education committee is working on the annual meeting. The tentative date for our annual educational meeting is October 18, 2025, in Lexington. We already have a tentative agenda and some great speakers lined up, so put this on your calendar. We are also planning some zoom journal club meetings, which will include CME.
We would like to welcome Dr. Daniel Weaver to the KYSAM board. He is filling our last vacancy which has been occupied by Dr. Pat Murphy.