§ 54.1-2522.1 (Effective July 1, 2027) Requirements of practitioners
A. Any prescriber who is licensed in the Commonwealth to treat human patients and is authorized pursuant to §§ 54.1-3303 and 54.1-3408 to issue a prescription for a covered substance shall be registered with the Prescription Monitoring Program by the Department of Health Professions.
B. Prescribers registered with the Prescription Monitoring Program shall, at the time of initiating a new course of treatment to a human patient that includes the prescribing of benzodiazepine or an opiate anticipated at the onset of treatment to last more than 90 consecutive days, request information from the Director for the purpose of determining (i) what, if any, other covered substances are currently prescribed to the patient and (ii) whether and under what circumstances the patient has experienced an opioid overdose. In addition, any prescriber of controlled substances approved for use in opioid addiction therapy shall, prior to or as a part of execution of a treatment agreement with the patient, request information from the Director for the purpose of determining (a) what, if any, other covered substances the patient is currently being prescribed and (b) whether and under what circumstances the patient has experienced an opioid overdose. Nothing in this section shall prohibit prescribers from making additional periodic requests for information from the Director as may be required by routine prescribing practices.
C. The Secretary of Health and Human Resources may identify and publish a list of benzodiazepines or opiates that have a low potential for abuse by human patients. Prescribers who prescribe such identified benzodiazepines or opiates shall not be required to meet the provisions of subsection B. In addition, a prescriber shall not be required to meet the provisions of subsection B if the course of treatment arises from pain management relating to dialysis, cancer treatments, or sickle cell anemia.
D. Prior to issuing a written certification for the use of cannabis oil in accordance with § 4.1-1601, a practitioner shall request information from the Director for the purpose of determining what, if any, other covered substances have been dispensed to the patient.
History
This law was first created in 2014. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 93 and 178 of that year’s edition of “Acts of Assembly,” the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 7 times. Those modifications are cataloged by “The Acts of Assembly,” a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly’s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2015, chapter 517; in 2016, chapters 113 and 406; in 2017, chapters 249 and 252; in 2018, chapters 102, 106, and 567; in 2023, chapters 740 and 773; in 2024, chapter 635; in 2025, chapters 168 and 487.
2014, cc. 93, 178; 2015, c. 517; 2016, cc. 113, 406; 2017, cc. 249, 252; 2018, cc. 102, 106, 567; 2023, cc. 740, 773; 2024, c. 635; 2025, cc. 168, 487.