This bill aims to amend the existing law regarding access to the Controlled Substances Monitoring Database maintained by the Board of Pharmacy in West Virginia. It introduces new provisions that allow additional qualified individuals to access the database, specifically including a licensed healthcare professional who is certified as a medical examiner with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a dean of any medical school or their designee, a physician reviewer designated by an employer of medical providers, and a chief medical officer of a hospital or a designated physician. The bill also emphasizes that all law enforcement personnel accessing the database must be certified and have completed approved training. Furthermore, the bill establishes a West Virginia Controlled Substances Monitoring Program Database Review Committee, which will consist of various professionals, including prosecuting attorneys and physicians, to independently query the database and investigate unusual prescribing or dispensing patterns. The committee is tasked with notifying appropriate licensing agencies and law enforcement if they find evidence of potential breaches of professional standards or criminal acts. The bill also mandates the Board of Pharmacy to provide an annual report on the program to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability, ensuring ongoing oversight and recommendations for legislative improvements.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 60A-9-5