New Jersey-2016-S241-Introduced

An Act concerning monitoring of certain controlled dangerous substances, and amending and supplementing P.L.2007, c.244.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. Section 26 of P.L.2007, c.244 (C.45:1-46) is amended to read as follows:

26. a. The division shall maintain procedures to ensure privacy and confidentiality of patients and that patient information collected, recorded, transmitted and maintained is not disclosed, except as permitted in this section, including, but not limited to, the use of a password-protected system for maintaining this information and permitting access thereto as authorized under sections 25 through 30 of P.L.2007, c.244 (C.45:1-45 through C.45:1-50), and a requirement that a person as listed in subsection d. of this section provide on-line affirmation of the person's intent to comply with the provisions of sections 25 through 30 of P.L.2007, c.244 (C.45:1-45 through C.45:1-50) as a condition of accessing the information.

b. The prescription monitoring information submitted to the division shall be confidential and not be subject to public disclosure under P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.), or P.L.2001, c.404 (C.47:1A-5 et al.).

c. The division shall review the prescription monitoring information provided by a pharmacy permit holder pursuant to sections 25 through 30 of P.L.2007, c.244 (C.45:1-45 through C.45:1-50). If the division determines that a violation of law or regulations, or a breach of the applicable standards of practice, may have occurred, the division shall notify the appropriate law enforcement agency or professional licensing board, and provide the prescription monitoring information required for an investigation.

d. The division may provide prescription monitoring information to the following persons:

(1) a practitioner authorized to prescribe, dispense or administer controlled dangerous substances who certifies that the request is for the purpose of providing health care to a current patient of the practitioner. [Nothing] Except as provided in section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), nothing in sections 25 through 30 of P.L.2007, c.244 (C.45:1-45 through C.45:1-50) shall be construed to require or obligate a practitioner to access or check the prescription monitoring information prior to prescribing, dispensing or administering medications beyond that which may be required as part of the practitioner's professional practice;

(2) a pharmacist authorized to dispense controlled dangerous substances who certifies that the request is for the purpose of providing health care to a current patient. [Nothing] Except as provided in section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), nothing in sections 25 through 30 of P.L.2007, c.244 (C.45:1-45 through C.45:1-50) shall be construed to require or obligate a pharmacist to access or check the prescription monitoring information prior to dispensing medications beyond that which may be required as part of the pharmacist's professional practice;

(3) a designated representative of the State Board of Medical Examiners, New Jersey State Board of Dentistry, New Jersey Board of Nursing, New Jersey State Board of Optometrists, New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy, State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, or any other board in this State or another state that regulates the practice of persons who are authorized to prescribe or dispense controlled dangerous substances, as applicable, who certifies that he is engaged in a bona fide specific investigation of a designated practitioner whose professional practice was or is regulated by that board;

(4) a State, federal or municipal law enforcement officer who is acting pursuant to a court order and certifies that the officer is engaged in a bona fide specific investigation of a designated practitioner or patient;

(5) a designated representative of a state Medicaid or other program who certifies that he is engaged in a bona fide investigation of a designated practitioner or patient;

(6) a properly convened grand jury pursuant to a subpoena properly issued for the records;

(7) authorized personnel of the division or vendor or contractor responsible for establishing and maintaining the program; and

(8) the controlled dangerous substance monitoring program in another state with which the division has established an interoperability agreement.

e. A person listed in subsection d. of this section, as a condition of obtaining prescription monitoring information pursuant thereto, shall certify, by means of entering an on-line statement in a form and manner prescribed by regulation of the director, the reasons for seeking to obtain that information.

f. The division shall offer an on-line tutorial for those persons listed in subsection d. of this section, which shall, at a minimum, include: how to access prescription monitoring information; the rights and responsibilities of persons who are the subject of or access this information and the other provisions of sections 25 through 30 of P.L.2007, c.244 (C.45:1-45 through C.45:1-50) and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto, regarding the permitted uses of that information and penalties for violations thereof; and a summary of the requirements of the federal health privacy rule set forth at 45 CFR Parts 160 and 164 and a hypertext link to the federal Department of Health and Human Services website for further information about the specific provisions of the privacy rule.

g. The director may provide nonidentifying prescription drug monitoring information to public or private entities for statistical, research or educational purposes.

(cf: P.L.2007, c.244, s.26)

2. (New section) Prior to prescribing or dispensing a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance to a patient, a practitioner or pharmacist, as applicable, shall access the prescription monitoring information, as authorized pursuant to subsection d. of section 26 of P.L.2007, c.244 (C.45:1-46), to determine if the patient has received other prescriptions that indicate, in the professional judgment of the practitioner or pharmacist, prescription abuse or diversion.

3. The Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this act.

4. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following the date of enactment, but the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance thereof as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.

STATEMENT

This bill requires that practitioners who prescribe, and pharmacists who dispense, Schedule II drugs check the information available through the State Prescription Monitoring Program prior to doing so.

The Prescription Monitoring Program, established in the Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA), pursuant to sections 25 through 30 of P.L.2007, c.244 (C.45:1-45 through c.45:1-50), currently does not require that prescribers and pharmacists check the information maintained by DCA before prescribing, administering, or dispensing any controlled dangerous substances. Schedule II drugs, such as oxycodone, have the highest potential for abuse of any prescription drugs legally available in the United States. Therefore, this bill would require that the information maintained by DCA under the Prescription Monitoring Program be checked before prescribing and dispensing Schedule II drugs.