WV SB743

Exempts mid-level licensed providers (such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants) from opioid prescription limitations when prescribing comfort medications to hospice patients for end-of-life care

Requires mid-level providers to be employed exclusively by a licensed hospice provider and work under the direction of a physician medical director to qualify for the exemption

Permits prescribing of controlled substances in Schedules II-V under this exemption specifically for hospice patient comfort care

Mandates the physician medical director to audit the prescribing practices of mid-level providers to ensure compliance with the exemption and proper reporting to the controlled substances monitoring database

Amends the Opioid Reduction Act (§16-54-4) while maintaining existing prescription limitations for non-hospice settings, including 4-day limits for emergency rooms and 7-day limits for initial prescriptions