§ 20-7-604 — Requirements for Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

(a) The State Board of Health shall create the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program upon the Department of Health's procuring adequate funding to establish the program. (b) (1) Each dispenser shall submit to the department information regarding each controlled substance dispensed. (2) A dispenser located outside Arkansas and licensed and registered by the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy shall submit to the department information regarding each controlled substance prescription dispensed to an ultimate user whose address is within Arkansas. (3) The State Board of Health shall create a controlled substances database for the program. (c) Each dispenser required to report under subsection (b) of this section shall submit to the department by electronic means information that shall include without limitation: (1) The dispenser's identification number; (2) The date the prescription was filled; (3) The prescription number; (4) Whether the prescription is new or is a refill; (5) The National Drug Code for the controlled substance that is dispensed; (6) The quantity of the controlled substance dispensed; (7) The number of days' supply dispensed; (8) The number of refills ordered; (9) (A) A patient identifier. (B) A patient identifier shall not be a Social Security number or a driver's license number; (10) The patient's name; (11) The patient's address; (12) The patient's date of birth; (13) The patient's gender; (14) The prescriber's identification number; (15) The date the prescription was issued by the prescriber; and (16) The source of the payment for the prescription. (d) (1) Except as required in subdivision (d)(2) of this section, practitioners are encouraged to access or check the information in the controlled substance database created under this subchapter before prescribing, dispensing, or administering medications. (2) (A) A prescriber shall check the information in the program when prescribing: (i) An opioid from Schedule II or Schedule III for every time prescribing the medication to a patient; and (ii) A benzodiazepine medication for the first time prescribing the medication to a patient. (B) A licensing board that licenses practitioners who have the authority to prescribe shall adopt rules requiring the practitioners to check the information in the program as described in subdivision (d)(2)(A) of this section. (C) This subdivision (d)(2) does not apply to: (i) A practitioner administering a controlled substance: (a) Immediately before or during surgery; (b) During recovery from a surgery while in a healthcare facility; (c) In a healthcare facility; or (d) Necessary to treat the patient in an emergency situation at the scene of an emergency, in a licensed ground ambulance or air ambulance, or in the intensive care unit of a licensed hospital; (ii) A practitioner prescribing or administering a controlled substance to: (a) A palliative care or hospice patient; or (b) A resident in a licensed nursing home facility; or (iii) Situations in which the program is not accessible due to technological or electrical failure. (D) The State Board of Health may amend, by rule, the exemptions listed in subdivision (d)(2)(C) of this section upon a recommendation from the Secretary of the Department of Health and a showing that the exemption or lack of exemption is unnecessarily burdensome or has created a hardship. (3) A licensed oncologist shall check the program when prescribing to a patient on an initial malignant episodic diagnosis and every three (3) months following the diagnosis while continuing treatment. (e) This subchapter does not prohibit licensing boards from requiring practitioners to access or check the information in the controlled substance database as a part of a review of the practitioner's professional practice. (f) Each dispenser shall submit the required information in accordance with transmission methods and frequency established by the department. (g) (1) The department shall create a process for patients to address errors, inconsistencies, and other matters in their record as maintained under this section, including cases of breach of privacy and security. (2) The department shall develop algorithms within the controlled substance database that would alert a practitioner if his or her patient is being prescribed opioids by more than three (3) physicians within any thirty-day period, if funding is available. (h) (1) The department shall limit access to only those employees whose access is reasonably necessary to carry out this section. (2) However, a prescriber may delegate access to the controlled substance database to persons under his or her supervision or employment. (i) A certified law enforcement prescription drug diversion investigator shall provide to the department the following information in order to be granted access to the program: (1) The identification credentials assigned by the department; and (2) The case number of the investigation. (j) (1) A qualified law enforcement agency shall submit to the department an annual report of the data accessed by all certified law enforcement prescription drug diversion investigators in the qualified law enforcement agency, including without limitation: (A) Written verification that the inquiries were part of a lawful prescription drug diversion investigation as provided to the department through the case number of the investigation; and (B) The disposition of the investigation. (2) The department shall: (A) Create a verification form for use under subdivision (j)(1) of this section; and (B) Make the verification form available annually to the qualified law enforcement agency. (3) (A) The verification form under subdivision (j)(2) of this section shall be submitted to the department within thirty (30) days of receipt of the form by the qualified law enforcement agency. (B) Failure to submit a verification form under subdivision (j)(3)(A) of this section shall result in the immediate suspension of access to the database by the qualified law enforcement agency and its certified law enforcement prescription drug diversion investigators until a determination is made by the department to allow continued access.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 4952, eff. 7/1/2019. Amended by Act 2017, No. 820,§ 1, eff. 8/1/2017. Amended by Act 2015, No. 1208,§ 4, eff. 7/22/2015. Amended by Act 2015, No. 1208,§ 3, eff. 7/22/2015. Amended by Act 2015, No. 901,§ 2, eff. 7/22/2015. Acts 2011, No. 304, § 1.