                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

(EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2027) REQUIREMENTS OF PRACTITIONERS (§ 54.1-2522.1)

A. Any prescriber who is licensed in the Commonwealth to treat human patients
and is authorized pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA7; 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 &#xA7; 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: 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.