1     
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE DATABASE ACT AMENDMENTS

2     
2018 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Justin L. Fawson

5     
Senate Sponsor: Curtis S. Bramble

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends portions of the Controlled Substance Database Act.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     changes the requirements for checking the controlled substance database;
13          ▸     delays enforcement of the requirements in this bill to check the controlled substance
14     database;
15          ▸     modifies the authority of the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing
16     to review the controlled substance database to identify any prescriber who may be
17     overprescribing opioids;
18          ▸     grants the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing the authority to
19     provide education or training to certain prescribers and to take other enforcement
20     action; and
21          ▸     modifies enforcement provisions.
22     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
23          None
24     Other Special Clauses:
25          None
26     Utah Code Sections Affected:
27     AMENDS:
28          58-37f-304, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2017, Chapters 181 and 237
29          58-37f-701, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2016, Chapter 275
30     

31     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
32          Section 1. Section 58-37f-304 is amended to read:
33          58-37f-304. Database utilization.
34          (1) As used in this section:
35          (a) "Dispenser" means a licensed pharmacist, as described in Section 58-17b-303, or
36     the pharmacist's licensed intern, as described in Section 58-17b-304, who is also licensed to
37     dispense a controlled substance under Title 58, Chapter 37, Utah Controlled Substances Act.
38          (b) "Outpatient" means a setting in which an individual visits a licensed healthcare
39     facility or a healthcare provider's office for a diagnosis or treatment but is not admitted to a
40     licensed healthcare facility for an overnight stay.
41          (c) "Prescriber" means an individual authorized to prescribe a controlled substance
42     under Title 58, Chapter 37, Utah Controlled Substances Act.
43          (d) "Schedule II opioid" means those substances listed in Subsection 58-37-4(2)(b)(i)
44     or (2)(b)(ii).
45          (e) "Schedule III opioid" means those substances listed in Subsection 58-37-4(2)(c)
46     that are opioids.
47          [(2) (a) A prescriber shall substantially comply with this Subsection (2).]
48          [(b) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), a]
49          (2) (a) A prescriber shall check the database for information about a patient before the
50     first time the prescriber gives a prescription to a patient for a Schedule II opioid or a Schedule
51     III opioid.
52          [(c) A prescriber is not required to check the database under Subsection (2)(b) if:]
53          [(i) the prescription for a Schedule II opioid or a Schedule III opioid is for three days or
54     fewer on the daily dosage instructions on the prescription;]
55          [(ii) the prescriber has prior knowledge of the patient's prescription history based on
56     the prescriber's review of the patient's health record; or]
57          [(iii) the prescription for a Schedule II opioid or a Schedule III opioid is a post surgical
58     prescription and the total duration of opioid written after the surgery has been for 30 days or
59     fewer.]
60          [(d)] (b) If a prescriber is repeatedly prescribing a Schedule II opioid or Schedule III
61     opioid to a patient, the prescriber shall periodically review information about the patient in:
62          (i) the database; or
63          (ii) other similar records of controlled substances the patient has filled.
64          [(e)] (c) A prescriber may assign the access and review required under [Subsections
65     (2)(b) and (2)(c)] Subsection (2)(a) to one or more employees in accordance with Subsections
66     58-37f-301(2)(i) and (j).
67          [(f) The division shall not take action against the license of a prescriber for failure to
68     follow this Subsection (2) if the prescriber demonstrates substantial compliance with the
69     requirements of this Subsection (2).]
70          (d) (i) A prescriber may comply with the requirements in Subsections (2)(a) and (b) by
71     checking an electronic health record system if the electronic health record system:
72          (A) is connected to the database through a connection that has been approved by the
73     division; and
74          (B) displays the information from the database in a prominent manner for the
75     prescriber.
76          (ii) The division may not approve a connection to the database if the connection does
77     not satisfy the requirements established by the division under Section 58-37f-301.
78          (e) A prescriber is not in violation of the requirements of Subsection (2)(a) or (b) if the
79     failure to comply with Subsection (2)(a) or (b):
80          (i) is necessary due to an emergency situation;
81          (ii) is caused by a suspension or disruption in the operation of the database; or
82          (iii) is caused by a failure in the operation or availability of the Internet.
83          (f) The division may not take action against the license of a prescriber for failure to
84     comply with this Subsection (2) unless the failure occurs after the earlier of:
85          (i) December 31, 2018; or
86          (ii) the date that the division has the capability to establish a connection that meets the
87     requirements established by the division under Section 58-37f-301 between the database and an
88     electronic health record system.
89          (3) The division shall, in collaboration with the licensing boards for prescribers and
90     dispensers:
91          (a) develop a system that gathers and reports to prescribers and dispensers the progress
92     and results of the prescriber's and dispenser's individual access and review of the database, as
93     provided in this section; and
94          (b) reduce or waive the division's continuing education requirements regarding opioid
95     prescriptions, described in Section 58-37-6.5, including the online tutorial and test relating to
96     the database, for prescribers and dispensers whose individual utilization of the database, as
97     determined by the division, demonstrates substantial compliance with this section.
98          (4) If the dispenser's access and review of the database suggest that the individual
99     seeking an opioid may be obtaining opioids in quantities or frequencies inconsistent with
100     generally recognized standards as provided in this section and Section 58-37f-201, the
101     dispenser shall reasonably attempt to contact the prescriber to obtain the prescriber's informed,
102     current, and professional decision regarding whether the prescribed opioid is medically
103     justified, notwithstanding the results of the database search.
104          (5) (a) The division shall review the database to identify any prescriber who has a
105     pattern of prescribing opioids not in accordance with the recommendations of:
106          (i) the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain, published by the
107     Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
108          (ii) the Utah Clinical Guidelines on Prescribing Opioids for Treatment of Pain,
109     published by the Department of Health; or
110          (iii) other publications describing best practices related to prescribing opioids as
111     identified by division rule in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
112     Rulemaking Act, and in consultation with the Physicians Licensing Board.
113          (b) The division shall offer education to a prescriber identified under this Subsection
114     (5) regarding best practices in the prescribing of opioids.
115          (c) A decision by a prescriber to accept or not accept the education offered by the
116     division under this Subsection (5) is voluntary.
117          (d) The division may not use an identification the division has made under this
118     Subsection (5) or the decision by a prescriber to accept or not accept education offered by the
119     division under this Subsection (5) in a licensing investigation or action by the division.
120          (e) Any record created by the division as a result of this Subsection (5) is a protected
121     record under Section 63G-2-305.
122          Section 2. Section 58-37f-701 is amended to read:
123          58-37f-701. Immunity from liability.
124          (1) An individual who has submitted information to or accessed and reviewed the
125     database in accordance with this chapter may not be held civilly liable, including under Title
126     78B, Chapter 3, Part 4, Utah Health Care Malpractice Act, for such actions, or a lack of action,
127     which are protected and are not subject to civil discovery, as provided in Section 58-37f-302.
128          [(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any action or lack of action by a
129     prescriber or dispenser to meet the requirements of Section 58-37f-304 may not be used by the
130     division in any action against the prescriber or dispenser.]
131          [(3)] (2) Nothing in Section 58-37f-304 establishes a minimum standard of care for
132     prescribers and dispensers.