Prevention of Prescription Drug Overdose and Abuse

Alabama

2013 Ala. Acts, Act 256
Made changes to the controlled substances prescription database advisory committee. Also required payment information to be included in the prescription monitoring database. Changed the people and entities who can access the database to include authorized representatives of the Alabama Medicaid Agency and up to two employees on behalf of an authorized physician. (2013 HB 150)

2013 Ala. Acts, Act 257
Provided additional powers for the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners regarding regulating pain management clinics and physicians. (2013 HB 151)

California

2013 Cal. Stats., Chap. 707
Authorized a licensed health care provider who is permitted by law to prescribe an opioid antagonist to prescribe and dispense an opioid antagonist for the treatment of an opioid overdose to a person at risk of an opioid-related overdose or a family member or other person in a position to assist a person at risk of an opioid-related overdose.  (2013 AB 635)

2013 Cal. Stats., Chap. 400
Established the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) Fund within the State Treasury to receive funds to be allocated, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Justice for the purposes of funding CURES. (2013 SB 809)

2013 Cal. Stats., Chap. 399
Authorized the California Medical Board, if it receives a report pursuant to either of the provisions described above that involves the death of a patient from a prescription drug overdose, to inspect and copy the medical records of the deceased patient (without the consent of the patient's next of kin or a court order) in order to determine the extent to which the death was the result of a prescriber's inappropriate conduct. (2013 SB 670)

2014 Cal. Stats., Chap. 326
Authorized a pharmacist to furnish naloxone hydrochloride in accordance with standardized procedures developed by the pharmacist and an authorized prescriber or developed and approved by both the State Board of Pharmacy and the Medical Board. Required a pharmacist to complete a training program on the use of opioid antagonists prior to performing the procedure. (2014 AB 1535)

2014 Cal. Stats., Chap. 491
Clarified that peace officers are included among the persons authorized to receive and distribute opioid antagonists to a person experiencing an overdose. Established training and standards for the use of opioid antagonists and authorized hospitals and trauma centers to share information with local law enforcement agencies about controlled substances. (2014 SB 1438)

Colorado

2013 Colo., Sess. Laws, Chap. 178
Allowed a person who acts in good faith to administer an opiate antagonist to another person whom they believes to be suffering an opiate-related drug overdose to be immune from criminal prosecution. (2013 SB 14)

2011 Colo., Sess. Laws, Chap. 230
Continued the PDMP until July 1, 2021. Provided a mechanism for law enforcement officials and regulatory boards to investigate prescriber behavior that is potentially harmful to the public. Also provided that each prescriber and each dispensing pharmacy is required to disclose to patients that their identifying prescription information will be entered into the program database. (2011 SB 192)

2014 Colo., Sess. Laws, Chapter 291
Granted the medical director, or his or her designee, at substance abuse treatment facilities, to access the state’s prescription drug monitoring program. Also required the Office of Behavioral Health to create a secure online substance abuse treatment registry to allow substance abuse treatment facilities to verify patient eligibility and register patients. Granted the Department of Human Services the authority to impose a wider range of disciplinary actions for violations of the act. (HB 1173)

2014 Colo., Sess. Laws, Chapter 238
Created a household medication take-back program. (HB 1207)

2014 Colo., Sess. Laws, Chapter 239
Made changes to the current prescription drug monitoring program to do the following: to deliver unsolicited reports of prescription data to practitioners and pharmacies; to allow a prescribing practitioner or pharmacist to delegate authority to access the database to up to three designees; to require prescribers and pharmacists to register with the PDMP; and allow out-of-state pharmacists to access database information. (HB 1283)

Connecticut

2013 Conn. Acts, P.A. 172
Required the commissioner of health to establish an electronic prescription drug monitoring program to collect, by electronic means. Also established certain rules for this program. (2013 HB 6406)

2012 Conn. Acts. P.A. 159
Clarified that health professionals may prescribe opioid antagonists to a broader group of persons for the prevention of prescription drug overdoses. (2012 HB 5063). 

2011 Conn. Acts. P.A. 11
Amended the pharmacy practice act and practitioner controlled substance registration. Clarified controlled substance registration provisions. Also required a biennial rather than an annual pharmacy license.

2014 Conn. Acts. P.A. 14-61
Provided immunity to a person who administers an opioid antagonist to another person experiencing an opioid-related drug overdose. (HB 5487)

Delaware

2014 Vol. 79 Del. Laws, Chap. 266

Allowed the Department of Health Social Services to create a community-based program that would expand access to Naloxone. (SB 219) 

Vol. 79 Del. Laws, Chap. 85

Provided criminal immunity for persons who suffer or report an alcohol or drug overdose or other life threatening medical emergency. (2013 SB 116)

Vol. 79 Del. Laws, Chap. 164

Authorized licensed chemical dependency professionals and licensed professional counselors of mental health to access the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) when a patient is enrolled in a substance abuse treatment program. Also authorized the exchange of prescription information submitted to the PMP through an interstate commission with an authorized member state. (2013 SB 59)

2010 Vol. 77 Del. Laws, Chap. 396

Created the Delaware Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) Act in the Office of Controlled Substances. PMP will monitor the prescribing and dispensing Schedule II, III, IV, and V controlled substances. This information will be provided to prescribers, dispensers, and patients to help avoid the illegal use of controlled substances. It will also be used to assist law enforcement in a related investigation.

2009 Vol. 77 Del. Laws, Chap. 161

Created a new offense, which makes it a crime to be in possession of a blank prescription form or pad if not a practitioner. Also makes it a crime to produce or reproduce transfer, use, give or sell a prescription form or pad of a practitioner with the intent to deprive the practitioner of such prescription pad. (2009 SB 178)

Florida

2014 Fla. Laws, Chap. 156

Revised provisions relating to public record exemption for certain information held in the prescription drug monitoring program. Also specified that certain entities may disclose confidential and exempt information in certain instances if such information is relevant to active investigation. Required certain steps to ensure continued confidentiality of non-relevant confidential and exempt information before disclosure of such information. (HB 7177)

2013 Fla. Laws, Chap. 26

Prohibited certified optometrists from administering or prescribing pharmaceutical agents listed in Schedule I or Schedule II. (2013 HB 239)

2011 Fla. Laws, Chap. 141

Required prescriptions for controlled substances to be written on a counterfeit proof prescription pads. Also clarified standards of practice for the prescribing of controlled substances. Pain management clinic regulation and registration are amended in this law. (2011 HB 7095)

2010 Fla. Laws, Chap. 211

Allowed the Department of Health to obtain patient records from patient if there is reasonable cause to believe that a health care practitioner has excessively or inappropriately prescribed any controlled substance. The Department does not need to obtain a release or subpoena for the investigation. This law also required all privately owned pain management clinics to register with the Department. Physicians must also be registered. Any physician or clinic not registered will not be able to practice medicine in that clinic. (2010 SB 2272)

Georgia

2013 Ga. Laws, p. 128

Enacted the "Georgia Pain Management Clinic Act" and require the licensure of pain management clinics. Also provided for requirements for pain management clinic licensure and the denial, suspension, and revocation of licenses. (2013 HB 178)

2011 Ga. Laws, 229

Provided for the establishment of a program to monitor the prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances and among other things also provided for the establishment of an Electronic Database Review Advisory Committee. (2011 SB 36)

2014 Ga. Laws, 616

Provided immunities from certain arrests, charges, or prosecutions for persons seeking medical assistance for a drug overdose. (HB965)

Idaho

2013 Idaho Sess. Laws, Chap. 317

Appropriated $627,600 from the Millennium Income Fund to the Office of Drug Policy for the period July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2014 to implement a statewide "Lock Your Meds" media campaign designed to educate Idahoans about the dangers of prescription drug abuse.  (2013 SB 1181)

2012 Idaho Sess. Laws, Chap. 198

Amended current law to clarify that practitioners and pharmacists licensed by states other than Idaho may access the controlled substances prescriptions database for treatment purposes. Also clarified that the board may provide unsolicited reports to pharmacists and practitioners. (2012 HB 439)

Illinois

2014 Ill. Laws, P.A. 98-0857

Allowed a law enforcement agency to collect, store, and transport controlled substances from residential sources to a site or facility permitted by the Environmental Protection Agency. Required such collected controlled substances to be managed in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act, its corresponding rules and permits, and federal and State laws and regulations. (SB 2928)

2010 Ill. Laws, P.A. 96-0361

Created the Drug Overdose Prevention Program. The director of the program may publish an annual report on drug overdose trends statewide that includes trends in drug overdose rates, trends in ER utilization due to drug overdose and related costs. Allowed the director to award grants to create or develop local drug overdose prevention, recognition, and response projects. (2010 HB 497)

2010 Ill. Laws, P.A. 96-1183

Amended the Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Act by expanding the scope of the Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Review Committee to include the following: requiring the conducting of public hearings for prescription drug abuse and to determine if state should increase penalties especially against those under age 25. In order to do this, the Committee may review guidelines from state universities addressing drug abuse. (2010 HB 4922)

Indiana

2013 Ind. Acts, P.L. 114
Established the Indiana Scheduled Prescription Electronic Collection and Tracking Program (INSPECT) interim study committee to study potential enhancements to the program, including real time reporting of collected information, reporting of criminal convictions for crimes involving controlled substances and illegal drugs, and requiring health care practitioners who prescribe medications to use the program.  (2013 HB 1465)

Kentucky

2012 Ky. Acts, Chap. 1
Established restrictions on pain management clinics including requiring a licensed physician with a specialty in pain management to be physically present practicing medicine in the pain management facility for at least 50 percent of the time patients are present in the facility. Also required each state licensing board to adopt administrative regulations establishing certain requirements for licensees authorized to prescribe or dispense controlled substances. (2012 Special Session HB 1)

Louisiana

La. Acts 2014, 253  

Authorized a first responder to receive a prescription for naloxone to administer naloxone to a third party. Provided limited liability for the administration of naloxone and required training prior to receiving a prescription for naloxone. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections is required to promulgate a set of best practices under this law. (HB 54)

La. Acts 2014, 392

Provided immunity from prosecution for persons seeking emergency assistance involving alcohol consumption and drug overdoses. Also granted first responders authority to administer opiate antagonists without prescription when encountering an individual exhibiting signs of an opiate overdose, and provided first responders administering antagonist immunity from civil actions. (SB 422) 

La. Acts 2012, 352
Authorized the sharing of prescription monitoring program information with prescription monitoring programs located in other states. (2012 SB 112)
La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §40:2198.12

Required all pain management clinics to be licensed by the department of health and hospitals. Required the department to prescribe and publish minimum standards, rules, and regulations regarding the operation of pain management clinics.

Maine

2014 Me, Laws, Chap. 579

Authorized the prescription, possession and administration of opioid antagonists under certain circumstances and provided criminal and civil immunities for such prescription, possession and administration. Also provided for Medicaid coverage of naloxone hydrochloride using existing resources. (HB 1209) 

2014 Me, Laws, Chap. 587

Implemented the recommendations of the Substance Abuse Services Commission with regard to the Controlled Substances Prescription Monitoring Program. (SB 743)

2013 Me. Laws, Chap. 25
Required the Substance Abuse Services Commission to develop a process to increase registration in the Controlled Substances Prescription Monitoring Program through professional licensing boards and to develop strategies to promote the use of the program by prescribers. (2013 LD 388)

2013 Me. Laws, Chap. 121
Made changes to the Unused Pharmaceutical Disposal Program as recommended by the Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force, which was established by the Governor and the Attorney General by Executive Order 2012-002. The purpose of the law is to reduce the cost of safe, effective and proper disposal of unused pharmaceuticals in order to reduce prescription drug abuse. (2013 LD 881)

2011 Me. Laws, Chap. 217

Adopted the interstate prescription monitoring program compact which would provide a mechanism for state prescription monitoring programs to securely share prescription data. (2011 HB 1056)

2011 Me. Laws, Chap. 81

Directed the Substance Abuse Services Commission to convene a work group to review and make recommendations for improvements in how physicians and other prescribers treat patients in chronic, noncancer-related pain without causing addiction or diversion. (2011 HB 1102)

Massachusetts

2014 Mass. Acts, Chap. 258

Provided for standards of certification for substance use disorder treatment providers. Also provided for a discharge plan for patients to include patient-specific follow-up treatment and establish a continuing program of investigation and study of mental health and substance use disorders and required insurance coverage. (SB 2142).

2012 Mass. Acts, Chap. 244

Required practitioners renewing their registration to register as a participant in the prescription drug monitoring program. Also required the department of health to distribute to pharmacies educational information about prescription drug abuse, proper disposal of prescription drugs, and addiction support or treatment resources.

Maryland

2014 Md. Laws, Chap 651.

Authorized the prescription drug monitoring program to review prescription monitoring data for a specified purpose and report possible misuse or abuse of a monitored prescription drug to a prescriber or dispenser. (HB 1296)

2013 Md. Laws, Chap. 299

Provided for an Overdose Response Program overseen by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Authorized a certified individual to receive a prescription for naloxone and supplies, possess prescribed naloxone and supplies, and administer naloxone, under specified circumstances, to specified individual. (2013 SB 610)

2013 Md. Laws, Chap. 177

Added the Division of Drug Control of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to the list of units of the department to which the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program must disclose prescription monitoring data under specified circumstances. (2013 SB 80)

2011 Md. Laws, Chap. 166

Established a prescription drug monitoring program to assist prescribers, dispensers and public health professionals in the identification, treatment and prevention of prescription drug abuse. Allowed data from the state’s program to be shared with another state’s prescription drug monitoring program. (2011 SB 883)

Minnesota

2014 Minn. Session Laws, Chap. 232

Limited the liability for the administration of opiate antagonists for drug overdose. (SB 1900)

Montana

2013 Mont. Laws, Chap. 407

Revised workers' compensation laws on prescribing schedule II and III drugs and would permit a query of the prescription drug registry prior to prescribing a schedule II or schedule III drug for treatment of a workers' compensation injury or occupational disease. (2013 SB 323)

2011 Mont. Laws, Chap. 241

Required the board of pharmacy to establish and maintain a prescription drug registry for the purpose of improving patient safety. Also established rules and requirements of registry. (2011 HB 83)

New Hampshire

2013 N.H. Laws, Chap. 161

Established a committee to study the use and misuse of prescription drugs in workers' compensation cases. (2013 SB 71)

2012 N.H. Laws, Chap. 196

Established the controlled drug prescription health and safety program. Granted rulemaking authority to the New Hampshire pharmacy board. (2012 SB 286)

New Jersey

2014 N.J. Laws Chap. 74

Revised certain provisions of New Jersey Prescription Monitoring Program. (SB 1998)

2013 N.J. Laws, Chap. 46

Created the Opioid Antidote and Overdose Prevention Act to provide immunity from civil and criminal liability and professional discipline for health care professionals who prescribe or dispense naloxone or any similarly acting drug approved for the treatment of an opioid overdose. Provided immunity from civil and criminal liability for other persons who administer such a drug in an emergency to an individual who the person believes in good faith is experiencing an opioid overdose.  (2013 SB 2082/AB 3095)

New Mexico

2012 N.M. Laws, Chap. 41
Amended the current New Mexico pain relief act by requiring continuing education for non-cancer pain management. (2012 SB 215)

 New York

2014 N.Y. Laws, Chap. 42

Allowed a health care professional to prescribe, dispense, and distribute an opioid antagonist to a person at risk of experiencing an opioid-related overdose or other person in a position to assist a person at risk of experiencing an opioid-related overdose. (SB 6477) (similar to Assembly Bill 8637)

2011 N.Y. Laws, Chap. 477

Enacted the Internet System for Tracking Over-Prescribing. Provided for the creation of a system for collecting, monitoring and reporting data concerning the prescribing and dispensing of schedule II, III, IV and V controlled substances and any other substance identified by the commissioner. (2011 SB 7637)
2010 N.Y. Laws, Chap. 178

Amended the current prescription drug monitoring program to inform the pharmacy that a person who presents or has presented a prescription for one or more controlled substances at the pharmacy may have also obtained one or more controlled substances at another pharmacy where the circumstances indicate a possibility of drug abuse or diversion, potential harm to the person, or similar grounds under regulations of the commissioner. (2010 AB 7662)

North Carolina

2013 N.C. Sess. Laws, Chap. 23

Provided immunity from civil or criminal liability for: practitioners who prescribe, dispense, or distribute an opioid antagonist to certain third parties, and certain individuals who administer an opioid antagonist to a person experiencing a drug-related overdose.  (2013 SB 20)

2011 N.C. Sess. Laws, Chap. 117

Established the North Carolina Smart Card Pilot program. In this pilot program the department of health and human services may allow electronic prescribing services and prescription drug database integration and tracking in order to prevent medical error through information sharing and to reduce pharmaceutical abuse. (2011 SB 307)

Ohio

2014 Ohio Laws, Chap. 172

Required the health curriculum of each school district to include instruction in prescription opioid abuse prevention. (HB 367)

2014 Ohio Laws, Chap. 128

Required in-home hospice care programs to establish procedures to prevent diversion of controlled substances that contain opioids that are prescribed to its patients. Also required applications for renewal to include written evidence that the applicant is in compliance. Established procedures for the disposal of any such drugs that are relinquished to the program after the patient's death or that otherwise can no longer be taken by the patient. (HB 366).

2014 Ohio Laws, Chap. 115

Prohibited a controlled substance that is a schedule II drug or contains opioids from being prescribed or dispensed without review of patient information in the State Board of Pharmacy's Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System. Also required each workers' compensation contract with a managed care organization to enter into a data security agreement with the state board of pharmacy regarding use of the database. (2013 HB 341).

2013 Ohio Laws, Chap. 89

Required hospital reporting to the Department of Health regarding newborns diagnosed as opioid dependent. (2013 HB 315)

2013 Ohio Laws, Chap. 127

Required a prescriber to obtain written informed consent from a minor's parent, guardian, or other person responsible for the minor before issuing an opioid prescription to the minor. (2013 HB 314).

2013 Ohio Laws, Chap. 72

Provided for increased access to naloxone. (2013 HB 170)

2013 Ohio Laws, Chap. 29

Established a pilot project in Lorain County from August 1, 2013, to July 31, 2014, pursuant to which qualified emergency responders in that County may be able to obtain and administer naloxone to revive a person suffering from an apparent opioid-related overdose. (2013 SB 57)

2011 Ohio Laws, H. 93

Required the board of pharmacy to license pain management clinics and provided for the clinics to be licensed as terminal distributors of dangerous drugs with a pain management clinic classification. Also required the board to adopt rules establishing standards for physician operation of pain management clinics and standards to be followed by physicians who provide care at the clinics. Required the pharmacy board, Attorney General, and department of alcohol and drug addiction services to develop a program under which drugs are collected from the community for destruction or disposal. Authorized a coroner to notify the medical board about a death caused by a drug overdose. Also required each Medicaid managed care organization and the Medicaid fee-for-service system to establish a coordinated services program for Medicaid recipients who obtain prescription drugs at a frequency or in an amount that is not medically necessary.

Oklahoma

2013 Okla. Sess. Laws, Chap. 322

Allowed first responders to administer opiate antagonists without a prescription when encountering a person exhibiting signs of a drug overdose.  (2013 HB 1782)

2013 Okla. Sess. Laws, Chap. 323

Created the Oklahoma Prescription Drug Reform Act of 2013 and prohibited more than two refills for any product containing hydrocodone with another active ingredient. (2013 HB 1783)

Oregon

2013 Or. Laws, Chap. 340
Required the Oregon Health Authority to prescribe criteria for training on treatment of opiate overdose and specifies requirements for training.  Also allowed persons successfully completing training to possess and administer naloxone for treatment of opiate overdose. (2013 SB 384)

2013 Or. Laws, Chap. 297
Provided that the Oregon State Board of Nursing may authorize certified registered nurse anesthetists to write prescriptions and dispense prescription drugs, including prescriptions for scheduled controlled substances.  (2013 SB 136)

Rhode Island

2013 R.I. Pub. Laws, Chap. 124
Required the director of the Department of Health to promulgate rules and regulations for the purpose of adopting a system for electronic data transmission of prescriptions for schedule II and III controlled substances.  (2013 HB 5756)

2013 R.I. Pub. Laws, Chap. 132
Required the director of the Department of Health to promulgate rules and regulations for the purpose of adopting a system for electronic data transmission of prescriptions for controlled substances in schedule II, III and IV. (2013 SB 647)

2013 R.I. Pub. Laws, Chap. 272
Created a seven member commission whose purpose would be to study the feasibility of enacting legislation that would establish an Internet system for tracking over-prescribing (I-STOP) and created a prescription monitoring program registry. (2013 HB 5982)

Tennessee

2014 Tenn. Pub, Acts, Chap. 1011
Required the executive director of the board of pharmacy to consult with the commissioner of health when staffing the controlled substance database. (SB 2547)

2014 Tenn. Pub. Acts, Chap. 623
Provided for immunity from civil liability for prescribers of opioid antagonists and those who administer it in order to address opioid-related drug overdoses. (SB 1631)

2013 Tenn. Pub. Acts, Chap. 430
Authorized protocols and other requirements for prescribing certain controlled substances and revised requirements for pain clinics. (2013 SB 676)

2013 Tenn. Pub. Acts, Chap. 398
Required a pregnant woman referred for drug abuse or drug dependence treatment at any treatment resource that receives public funding to be a priority user of available treatment and prohibits any such treatment resource from refusing to treat a person solely because the person is pregnant if appropriate resources are offered by the treatment resource. (2013 SB 459)

2013 Tenn. Pub. Acts, Chap. 336
Prohibited pain management clinics from dispensing controlled substances. (2013 HB 868)

2013 Tenn. Pub. Acts, Chap. 276
Required a pharmacist to make every reasonable effort to prevent the abuse of drugs which the pharmacist dispenses.  (2013 SB 962)

2012 Tenn. Pub. Acts 340
Regulated pain management clinics and required that such clinics apply for certification with the department of health. (2012 HB 1040)

2012 Tenn. Pub. Acts, 932
Required the board of pharmacy to publish a list of opioid drugs incorporating tamper or abuse resistance properties. (2012 SB 3003)

2012 Tenn. Pub. Acts, Chap. 880
Enacted the Tennessee Prescription Safety Act of 2012 and revised various provisions of present law regarding the controlled substance database.

Texas

Senate Bill 1643 of 2013
Created the Interagency Prescription Monitoring Work Group. Also required the method of payment to be included in the prescription drug monitoring program.

Senate Bill 316 of 2013
Required the Board of Pharmacy to develop a continuing education program regarding opioid drug abuse and the delivery, dispensing, and provision of tamper-resistant opioid drugs after considering input from interested persons. The board may require a license holder to satisfy a number of the continuing education hours.

2011 Tex. Gen. Laws, Chap. 1228
Amended current law to allow certain controlled substances to be dispensed with an electronic prescription. (2011 SB 594)

Utah

2014 Utah Laws, Chap. 68   
Provided access to the Controlled Substance Database to authorized employees of a Medicaid managed care organization, if the Medicaid managed care organization suspects the Medicaid recipient is improperly obtaining a controlled substance. (2014 SB 29).

2014 Utah Laws, Chap. 401 
Modified the Controlled Substance Database Act regarding access by allowing the pharmacist-in-charge to designate a specified number of licensed pharmacy technicians to have access to the database on behalf of the pharmacist in accordance with statutory requirements. (2014 SB 178).

2014 Utah Laws, Chap. 19
Provided that a person who reports a person's overdose from a controlled substance or other substance may claim an affirmative defense to specified charges of violating the Act if the person remains with the person who is subject to the overdose. Provided that remaining with a person subject to an overdose and cooperating with medical and law enforcement personnel is a penalty mitigating factor. (2014 HB 11)

2014 Utah Laws, Chap. 130
Created the Emergency Administration of Opiate Antagonist Act, which permits the dispensing and administration of an opiate antagonist to a person who is reasonably believed to be experiencing an opiate-related drug overdose event. Established related immunity. Provided that there is no duty to administer an opiate antagonist. Required a person who prescribes or dispenses such antagonist to advise a person to seek a medical evaluation after a drug overdose and taking the antagonist. (2014 HB 119)

2013 Utah Laws, Chap. 130
Amended the Controlled Substance Database Act to allow designees of the director of the Utah Department of Health to access the controlled substance database. Allowed access to the controlled substance database to designated individuals conducting scientific studies regarding the use or abuse of controlled substances. (2013 HB 270)

2013 Utah Laws, Chap. 450
Established the continuing education requirements for controlled substance prescribers under the Utah Controlled Substances Act. (2013 SB 214)

2012 Utah Laws, Chap. 174
Made information in the controlled substances database and information obtained from other state or federal prescription monitoring programs by means of the database available to certain individuals. Allowed individuals employed in an emergency room of a hospital to exercise access to the database. (2012 HB 257)

2011 Utah Laws, Chap. 38
Made information in the prescription drug monitoring database available to employees of the Office of Internal Audit and Program Integrity within the Department of Health who are engaged in their specified duty of ensuring Medicaid program integrity. (2011 HB 358)

2011 Utah Laws, Chap. 103
Designated the month of April as “Clean Out the Medicine Cabinet Month” in Utah. (2011 HB 241)

2011 Utah Laws, Chap. 226
Authorized certain individuals to access the controlled substance database for the purpose of reviewing a patient's request for workers' compensation benefits. (2011 SB 248)

2010 Utah Laws, Chap. 287
Amended provisions relating to the Controlled Substance Database and states requirements for individuals, other than veterinarians, who are licensed to provide a controlled substance or applying for a license or renewing a license. These individuals have to register to use the database, take a tutorial and pass a test relating to the database and prescribing of a controlled substance. Any failure to register will result in a felony. (2010 HB 28)

2010 Utah Laws, Chap. 290
Provided for notification of practitioners if a patient 12 years of age or older is admitted to hospital for poisoning by or overdose of a prescribed, controlled substance that practitioner may have prescribed. (2010 HB 35)

Vermont

2013 Vt. Acts, Act 75
Required health care providers to search the Vermont Prescription Monitoring System prior to prescribing a controlled substance and expanded the categories of persons who may access the Vermont Prescription Monitoring System (VPMS). (2013 HB 522)

Virginia

2014 Va. Acts, Chap. 664
Required prescribers to report prescription drugs of concern to the Prescription Monitoring Program. (2014 HB 874)

2014 Va. Acts, Chap. 93
Required prescribers to request information from the Prescription Monitoring Program for the purpose of establishing a drug treatment history prior to initiating treatment with benzodiazepines or other opiates. (2014 HB 1249)

2014 Va. Acts, Chap. 178
Required prescribers licensed in the Commonwealth to register with the Prescription Monitoring Program. Stated that registered prescribers must request, from the Director of the Department of Health Professions, information regarding a patient's treatment history prior to issuing a prescription for benzodiazepine or an opiate. (2014 HB 294)

2013 Va. Acts, Chap. 739
Added an agent designated by the chief law-enforcement officer of any county or city to the list of individuals to whom the Department of Health Professions must disclose information relevant to a specific investigation of a specific recipient, dispenser, or prescriber upon request, and provided that agents designated by the superintendent of the Department of State Police or the chief law-enforcement officer of a county or city to receive information relevant to a specific investigation of a specific recipient, dispenser, or prescriber to complete the Virginia State Police Drug Diversion School. (2013 HB 1704)

2012 Va. Acts, Chap. 21
Modified the prescription drug monitoring program to require dispensers of covered substances to report the method of payment for the prescription. Also required the director of the department of health professions to report information relevant to an investigation of a prescription recipient, in addition to a prescriber or dispenser, to any federal law-enforcement agency with the authority to conduct drug diversion investigations. (2012 HB 347)

Washington

2013 Wash. Laws, Chap. 36
Funded the prescription monitoring program from the Medicaid fraud penalty account. (2013 HB 1565/SB 5493)

2010 Wash. Laws, Chap. 9
Created provisions for drug overdose prevention. Among other provisions, the law allows a person who is experiencing an overdose and seeks medical attention may not be charged or prosecuted for possession of a controlled substance. (2010 SB 5516)

West Virginia

2013 W.Va. Acts, Chap. 82
Created the Unintentional Pharmaceutical Drug Overdose Fatality Review Team under the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. (2013 SB 108)

2010 W.Va. Acts, Chap. 147
Created the official prescription program act, which requires prescriptions to be written on a tamper-proof prescription pad, among other provisions. (2010 SB 81)

Wisconsin

2014 Wis. Laws, Act 200
Required emergency medical technicians to carry opioid antagonists and provided immunity for certain individuals who prescribe, dispense, delivery, or administer opioid antagonists. (2014 AB 446)

2013 Wis. Laws, Act 3
Excluded veterinarians from the prescription drug monitoring program.  (2013 AB 3)