AR HB2059

Prescribers must check the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program every time before prescribing Schedule II or Schedule III opioids to any patient.

Prescribers must check the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program for the first time before prescribing benzodiazepine medications to a patient, with exemptions for surgeries, palliative care, hospice, nursing home residents, and emergency situations.

Licensed oncologists must check the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program when prescribing to a patient on initial malignant episodic diagnosis and every three months during continuing treatment.

The Department of Health shall review monitoring program information to identify potential misuse or abuse, provide quarterly reports to practitioners and dispensers, and escalate to licensing boards after 12 months of continued apparent misuse.

Practitioners who purposely fail to access the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program as required are subject to disciplinary action by their licensing board.