This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to create an exemption from prescription limitations for mid-level providers who are licensed and employed exclusively by licensed hospice providers. Under the new provisions, these mid-level providers will be allowed to prescribe comfort medications, including those classified as Schedule II-V under the West Virginia Uniform Controlled Substances Act, without being subject to the existing limitations on opioid prescriptions. The bill mandates that these providers operate under the supervision of a physician medical director, who will be responsible for auditing their prescribing practices to ensure compliance with the exemption and proper reporting to the controlled substances monitoring database.

The bill specifically inserts new language that outlines the conditions under which mid-level providers can prescribe medications for end-of-life comfort care, while also emphasizing the role of the physician medical director in overseeing these practices. This legislative change aims to enhance the ability of hospice care providers to manage pain and provide comfort to patients in their final stages of life, while still maintaining oversight to prevent misuse of controlled substances.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-54-4