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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>57288</law_id><section_number>54.1-2525</section_number><catch_line>Unlawful disclosure of information; disciplinary action authorized; penalties</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="54.1">Professions and Occupations</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="25.2">Prescription Monitoring Program</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> It shall be unlawful for any person having access to the confidential information in the <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of the program or any data or reports produced by the program to disclose such confidential information except as provided in this chapter. Any person having access to the confidential information in the <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of the program or any data or reports produced by the program who discloses such confidential information in violation of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> upon <span class="dictionary">conviction</span>. <a id="paragraph-209833" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2525/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> It shall be unlawful for any person who lawfully receives confidential information from the Prescription Monitoring Program to redisclose or use such confidential information in any way other than the authorized purpose for which the request was made. Any person who lawfully receives information from the Prescription Monitoring Program and discloses such confidential information in violation of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> upon <span class="dictionary">conviction</span>. <a id="paragraph-209834" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2525/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Nothing in this section shall prohibit (i) a person who prescribes or <span class="dictionary">dispenses</span> a <span class="dictionary">covered substance</span> to a <span class="dictionary">recipient</span> required to be reported to the program from redisclosing information obtained from the Prescription Monitoring Program to another <span class="dictionary">prescriber</span> or <span class="dictionary">dispenser</span> who has responsibility for treating the <span class="dictionary">recipient</span> or (ii) a person who prescribes a <span class="dictionary">covered substance</span> from placing information obtained from the Prescription Monitoring Program in the <span class="dictionary">recipient</span>&#x2019;s medical record. <a id="paragraph-209835" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2525/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Information obtained from the Prescription Monitoring Program pursuant to subdivision B 7 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Smartchart Network Program established; purpose" href="/32.1-372/">32.1-372</a> shall become part of the patient&#x2019;s medical record. <a id="paragraph-209836" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2525/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential information received from the Prescription Monitoring Program shall also be grounds for disciplinary action by the <span class="dictionary">relevant health regulatory board</span>. <a id="paragraph-209837" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2525/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2002, c. 481; 2011, cc. 812, 844; 2016, c. 309; 2020, cc. 1066, 1067; 2023, cc. 628, 629.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
