KRS 218A.025: Controlled Substances Prescribing Council -- Membership -- Duties --

Report.

(1) The Controlled Substances Prescribing Council is hereby established under the

Office of the Inspector General. The council shall consist of the following fiftee n

(15) members:

(a) The Inspector General of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, who

shall serve as chair of the council;

(b) The executive director of the Office of Drug Control Policy;

(c) Two (2) currently licensed prescribers of scheduled drugs selected by the

Kentucky Board of Dentistry, one (1) of whom shall be a dentist and one (1)

of whom shall be an oral surgeon;

(d) Three (3) licensed physicians who currently prescribe scheduled drugs

selected by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure, on e (1) of whom shall

have a specialty in primary care, one (1) of whom shall have a specialty in

psychiatry or addiction medicine, and one (1) of whom shall have a specialty

in pain management;

(e) Three (3) licensed advanced practice registered nurses who currently

prescribe scheduled drugs selected by the Kentucky Board of Nursing, one (1)

of whom shall have a specialty in primary care, one (1) of whom shall have a

specialty in psychiatric mental health or addiction, and one (1) of whom shall

have a specialty in pain management;

(f) One (1) licensed prescriber of scheduled drugs selected by the Kentucky

Board of Optometric Examiners;

(g) One (1) licensed prescriber of scheduled drugs selected by the Kentucky

Board of Podiatry;

(h) One (1) licensed pharmacis t selected by the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy;

and

(i) Two (2) licensed veterinarians who currently prescribe and dispense

scheduled drugs selected by the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners,

one (1) of whom shall have a specialty in livestock as defined in KRS

257.010, and one (1) of whom shall have a specialty in equine medicine.

(2) The council shall meet at least quarterly to discuss matters relating to the safe and

appropriate prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances, including:

(a) The review of quarterly reports issued by the Office of the Inspector General

pursuant to KRS 218A.202(9) to identify potential improper, inappropriate, or

illegal prescribing or dispensing of controlled substances by examining

aggregate patterns of prescribing by profession of the prescriber and county

where the medication was prescribed and dispensed;

(b) Recommendations for improvements in data collection and reporting by the

electronic system for monitoring controlled substances pursuant to KRS

218A.202;

(c) Recommendations for best prescribing practices based on up-to-date research;

(d) Recommendations to the professional licensing boards for actions to aid in

enforcing current law, reviewing prescribing and dispensing data, and

correcting improper, inappropriate, or illegal prescribing or dispensing of a

controlled substance; and

(e) Development and communication of any recommendations, based on review

of data or research, to each licensure board. The licensure boards shall

respond in writing to the panel within ninety (90) days of receiving the

recommendations with an explanation of their r esponse to the

recommendations.

(3) The council may request information from the licensure boards regarding their

procedures for conducting investigations and taking actions regarding the possible

improper, inappropriate, or illegal prescribing or dispensi ng of controlled

substances.

(4) On or before December 31 of each year, the council shall submit an annual report to

the Governor and the Legislative Research Commission for referral to the Interim

Joint Committee on Health Services. The annual report shall:

(a) List the council's meeting dates and topics for the preceding year;

(b) Provide relevant statistical information, including a summary of the aggregate

patterns by profession of prescriber and by county, of potential improper,

inappropriate, or illegal prescribing or dispensing of a controlled substance;

(c) Describe the efforts made by the council to share information among the

licensure boards related to improving the safe and appropriate prescribing and

dispensing of controlled substances;

(d) Summarize responses received from the licensure boards to the panel's

recommendations; and

(e) Provide any policy recommendations, including recommendations for

statutory or administrative regulation changes intended to improve prescribing

and dispensing pract ices and prevent improper, inappropriate, or illegal

prescribing or dispensing of controlled substances.

(5) The council shall not make any recommendations related to the scope of practice of

any prescribing or dispensing professionals.

(6) The council sha ll be attached to the Office of the Inspector General for

administrative purposes.

(7) Members shall not receive any additional compensation for their service on the

council but shall be reimbursed for all necessary expenses.