AR SB717

Amends the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program to allow the Department of Health to review patient and prescriber data for signs of prescription drug misuse or abuse, and notify relevant practitioners and professional licensing boards after the boards establish notification parameters.

Adds "opioid" definition to the monitoring program and requires the department to develop algorithms that alert prescribers when patients are prescribed opioids by more than three physicians within any thirty-day period, if funding is available.

Creates the Combating Prescription Drug Abuse Act establishing new requirements for hospitals with emergency departments to adopt opioid prescribing guidelines addressing treatment of chronic nonmalignant pain, prescription limits, and situations where opioids should be discouraged or prohibited.

Requires prescribers to complete a minimum of two hours of approved prescribing education within their first two years of licensure after December 31, 2015, covering prescribing rules, regulations, and laws.

Establishes prescriber requirements for patients with chronic nonmalignant pain including checking the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program at least every six months, obtaining signed pain contracts, and requiring patient evaluations by physicians at least every six months; provides immunity for good faith reports of suspected drug diversion.