{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-2523.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-2523.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-2523.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-2523.1.html"}],"law_id":74465,"edition_id":1,"section_id":74465,"structure_id":13315,"section_number":"54.1-2523.1","catch_line":"Criteria for indicators of misuse; Director’s authority to disclose information; intervention","history":"2005, cc. 637, 678; 2012, cc. 21, 71; 2013, c. 739; 2016, c. 98; 2018, cc. 190, 239.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Director shall develop, in consultation with an advisory panel which shall include representatives of the Boards of Medicine and Pharmacy, the Department of Health, the Department of Medical Assistance Services, and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, criteria for indicators of unusual patterns of prescribing or dispensing of covered substances by prescribers or dispensers and misuse of covered substances by recipients and a method for analysis of data collected by the Prescription Monitoring Program using the criteria for indicators of misuse to identify unusual patterns of prescribing or dispensing of covered substances by individual prescribers or dispensers or potential misuse of a covered substance by a recipient. The Director, in consultation with the panel, shall annually review controlled substance prescribing and dispensing patterns and shall (i) make any necessary changes to the criteria for unusual patterns of prescribing and dispensing required by this subsection and (ii) report any findings and recommendations for best practices to the Joint Commission on Health Care by November 1 of each year.B\n\nIn cases in which analysis of data collected by the Prescription Monitoring Program using the criteria for indicators of misuse indicates an unusual pattern of prescribing or dispensing of a covered substance by an individual prescriber or dispenser or potential misuse of a covered substance by a recipient, the Director may, in addition to the discretionary disclosure of information pursuant to \u00a7 54.1-2523:1\n\nDisclose information about the unusual prescribing or dispensing of a covered substance by an individual prescriber or dispenser to the Enforcement Division of the Department of Health Professions; or2\n\nDisclose information about the specific recipient to (i) the prescriber or prescribers who have prescribed a covered substance to the recipient for the purpose of intervention to prevent misuse of such covered substance or (ii) an agent who has completed the Virginia State Police Drug Diversion School designated by the Superintendent of State Police or designated by the chief law-enforcement officer of any county, city, or town or campus police department for the purpose of an investigation into possible drug diversion.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":267631,"text":"The Director shall develop, in consultation with an advisory panel which shall include representatives of the Boards of Medicine and Pharmacy, the Department of Health, the Department of Medical Assistance Services, and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, criteria for indicators of unusual patterns of prescribing or dispensing of covered substances by prescribers or dispensers and misuse of covered substances by recipients and a method for analysis of data collected by the Prescription Monitoring Program using the criteria for indicators of misuse to identify unusual patterns of prescribing or dispensing of covered substances by individual prescribers or dispensers or potential misuse of a covered substance by a recipient. The Director, in consultation with the panel, shall annually review controlled substance prescribing and dispensing patterns and shall (i) make any necessary changes to the criteria for unusual patterns of prescribing and dispensing required by this subsection and (ii) report any findings and recommendations for best practices to the Joint Commission on Health Care by November 1 of each year.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":267632,"text":"In cases in which analysis of data collected by the Prescription Monitoring Program using the criteria for indicators of misuse indicates an unusual pattern of prescribing or dispensing of a covered substance by an individual prescriber or dispenser or potential misuse of a covered substance by a recipient, the Director may, in addition to the discretionary disclosure of information pursuant to \u00a7 54.1-2523:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B1"},"2":{"id":267633,"text":"Disclose information about the unusual prescribing or dispensing of a covered substance by an individual prescriber or dispenser to the Enforcement Division of the Department of Health Professions; or","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"3":{"id":267634,"text":"Disclose information about the specific recipient to (i) the prescriber or prescribers who have prescribed a covered substance to the recipient for the purpose of intervention to prevent misuse of such covered substance or (ii) an agent who has completed the Virginia State Police Drug Diversion School designated by the Superintendent of State Police or designated by the chief law-enforcement officer of any county, city, or town or campus police department for the purpose of an investigation into possible drug diversion.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13315,"edition_id":1,"name":"Prescription Monitoring Program","identifier":"25.2","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12758,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:37","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:37","permalink":{"id":241371,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13315,"identifier":"25.2","token":"54.1\/III\/25.2","url":"\/54.1\/III\/25.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12758,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12754,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":241105,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12758,"identifier":"III","token":"54.1\/III","url":"\/54.1\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12754,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":239313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12754,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":68394,"structure_id":13315,"section_number":"54.1-2519","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/54.1-2519\/","token":"54.1\/III\/25.2\/54.1-2519","metadata":false},{"id":55075,"structure_id":13315,"section_number":"54.1-2520","catch_line":"Program establishment; Director's regulatory authority","url":"\/54.1-2520\/","token":"54.1\/III\/25.2\/54.1-2520","metadata":false},{"id":64843,"structure_id":13315,"section_number":"54.1-2521","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Reporting requirements","url":"\/54.1-2521\/","token":"54.1\/III\/25.2\/54.1-2521","metadata":false},{"id":69685,"structure_id":13315,"section_number":"54.1-2522","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Reporting exemptions","url":"\/54.1-2522\/","token":"54.1\/III\/25.2\/54.1-2522","metadata":false},{"id":72705,"structure_id":13315,"section_number":"54.1-2522.1","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2027) Requirements of practitioners","url":"\/54.1-2522.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/25.2\/54.1-2522.1","metadata":false},{"id":67799,"structure_id":13315,"section_number":"54.1-2522.2","catch_line":"Requirements for dispensers","url":"\/54.1-2522.2\/","token":"54.1\/III\/25.2\/54.1-2522.2","metadata":false},{"id":56919,"structure_id":13315,"section_number":"54.1-2523","catch_line":"Confidentiality of data; disclosure of information; discretionary authority of Director","url":"\/54.1-2523\/","token":"54.1\/III\/25.2\/54.1-2523","metadata":false},{"id":74465,"structure_id":13315,"section_number":"54.1-2523.1","catch_line":"Criteria for indicators of misuse; Director's authority to disclose information; intervention","url":"\/54.1-2523.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/25.2\/54.1-2523.1","metadata":false},{"id":56473,"structure_id":13315,"section_number":"54.1-2523.2","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2027) Authority to access database","url":"\/54.1-2523.2\/","token":"54.1\/III\/25.2\/54.1-2523.2","metadata":false},{"id":57186,"structure_id":13315,"section_number":"54.1-2524","catch_line":"Immunity from liability","url":"\/54.1-2524\/","token":"54.1\/III\/25.2\/54.1-2524","metadata":false},{"id":57288,"structure_id":13315,"section_number":"54.1-2525","catch_line":"Unlawful disclosure of information; disciplinary action authorized; penalties","url":"\/54.1-2525\/","token":"54.1\/III\/25.2\/54.1-2525","metadata":false},{"id":54302,"structure_id":13315,"section_number":"54.1-2526","catch_line":"Exemption of information systems from provisions related to the Virginia Information Technologies Agency","url":"\/54.1-2526\/","token":"54.1\/III\/25.2\/54.1-2526","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":56919,"structure_id":13315,"section_number":"54.1-2523","catch_line":"Confidentiality of data; disclosure of information; discretionary authority of Director","url":"\/54.1-2523\/","token":"54.1\/III\/25.2\/54.1-2523","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":56473,"structure_id":13315,"section_number":"54.1-2523.2","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2027) Authority to access database","url":"\/54.1-2523.2\/","token":"54.1\/III\/25.2\/54.1-2523.2","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-2523.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2005. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 637<\/a> and 678<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2012, chapters 21<\/a> and 71<\/a>; in 2013, chapter 739<\/a>; in 2016, chapter 98<\/a>; in 2018, chapters 190<\/a> and 239<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":241401,"object_type":"law","relational_id":74465,"identifier":"54.1-2523.1","token":"54.1\/III\/25.2\/54.1-2523.1","url":"\/54.1-2523.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-2523.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/25.2\/54.1-2523.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Criteria for indicators of misuse; Director’s authority to disclose information; intervention","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-2523.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Director<\/span> shall develop, in consultation with an advisory panel<\/span> which shall include representatives of the Boards of Medicine and Pharmacy, the Department<\/span> of Health, the Department<\/span> of Medical Assistance Services, and the Department<\/span> of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, criteria for indicators of unusual patterns of prescribing or dispensing of covered substances<\/span> by prescribers<\/span> or dispensers<\/span> and misuse of covered substances<\/span> by recipients<\/span> and a method for analysis of data collected by the Prescription Monitoring Program using the criteria for indicators of misuse to identify unusual patterns of prescribing or dispensing of covered substances<\/span> by individual prescribers<\/span> or dispensers<\/span> or potential misuse of a covered substance<\/span> by a recipient<\/span>. The Director<\/span>, in consultation with the panel<\/span>, shall annually review controlled substance<\/span> prescribing and dispensing patterns and shall (i) make any necessary changes to the criteria for unusual patterns of prescribing and dispensing required by this subsection and (ii) report any findings<\/span> and recommendations for best practices to the Joint Commission on Health Care by November 1 of each year. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> In cases in which analysis of data collected by the Prescription Monitoring Program using the criteria for indicators of misuse indicates an unusual pattern of prescribing or dispensing of a covered substance<\/span> by an individual prescriber<\/span> or dispenser<\/span> or potential misuse of a covered substance<\/span> by a recipient<\/span>, the Director<\/span> may, in addition to the discretionary disclosure of information pursuant to \u00a7 54.1-2523<\/a>: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Disclose information about the unusual prescribing or dispensing of a covered substance<\/span> by an individual prescriber<\/span> or dispenser<\/span> to the Enforcement Division of the Department<\/span> of Health Professions; or <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Disclose information about the specific recipient<\/span> to (i) the prescriber<\/span> or prescribers<\/span> who have prescribed a covered substance<\/span> to the recipient<\/span> for the purpose of intervention to prevent misuse of such covered substance<\/span> or (ii) an agent who has completed the Virginia State Police Drug Diversion<\/span> School designated by the Superintendent of State Police or designated by the chief law<\/span>-enforcement officer of any county, city, or town or campus police department<\/span> for the purpose of an investigation into possible drug diversion<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCRITERIA FOR INDICATORS OF MISUSE; DIRECTOR’S AUTHORITY TO DISCLOSE\nINFORMATION; INTERVENTION (\u00a7 54.1-2523.1)\n\nA. The Director shall develop, in consultation with an advisory panel which\nshall include representatives of the Boards of Medicine and Pharmacy, the\nDepartment of Health, the Department of Medical Assistance Services, and the\nDepartment of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, criteria for\nindicators of unusual patterns of prescribing or dispensing of covered\nsubstances by prescribers or dispensers and misuse of covered substances by\nrecipients and a method for analysis of data collected by the Prescription\nMonitoring Program using the criteria for indicators of misuse to identify\nunusual patterns of prescribing or dispensing of covered substances by\nindividual prescribers or dispensers or potential misuse of a covered substance\nby a recipient. The Director, in consultation with the panel, shall annually\nreview controlled substance prescribing and dispensing patterns and shall (i)\nmake any necessary changes to the criteria for unusual patterns of prescribing\nand dispensing required by this subsection and (ii) report any findings and\nrecommendations for best practices to the Joint Commission on Health Care by\nNovember 1 of each year.\n\nB. In cases in which analysis of data collected by the Prescription Monitoring\nProgram using the criteria for indicators of misuse indicates an unusual pattern\nof prescribing or dispensing of a covered substance by an individual prescriber\nor dispenser or potential misuse of a covered substance by a recipient, the\nDirector may, in addition to the discretionary disclosure of information\npursuant to \u00a7 54.1-2523:\n\n 1. Disclose information about the unusual prescribing or dispensing of a\n covered substance by an individual prescriber or dispenser to the Enforcement\n Division of the Department of Health Professions; or\n\n 2. Disclose information about the specific recipient to (i) the prescriber or\n prescribers who have prescribed a covered substance to the recipient for the\n purpose of intervention to prevent misuse of such covered substance or (ii) an\n agent who has completed the Virginia State Police Drug Diversion School\n designated by the Superintendent of State Police or designated by the chief\n law-enforcement officer of any county, city, or town or campus police\n department for the purpose of an investigation into possible drug diversion.\n\nHISTORY: 2005, cc. 637, 678; 2012, cc. 21, 71; 2013, c. 739; 2016, c. 98; 2018,\ncc. 190, 239.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}