HB 22-1115

HB 22-1115, also known as the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program bill, requires doctors and pharmacists in Colorado to check a statewide database before prescribing or filling prescriptions for opioids or benzodiazepines. It also mandates that these professionals register with this monitoring program and stay up-to-date on its rules to avoid penalties. The bill allows healthcare providers to delegate access to the database to their staff members who are qualified, making it easier to manage patient records. Additionally, it provides funding for integrating the drug monitoring system with electronic medical records, helping practitioners and pharmacists cover some of the costs involved. This bill has been signed into law, meaning its requirements are now in effect.

Official Summary

The act: Clarifies that every prescriber must query the prescription drug monitoring program (program) prior to filling a prescription for an opioid or benzodiazepine; Requires each prescriber and pharmacist to attest that they have registered and are maintaining a user account with the program and that they are aware of the penalties for noncompliance; Allows a practitioner or pharmacist who is registered with the program to authorize an unlimited number of designees to access the program on the practitioner's or pharmacist's behalf if the designees meet the eligibility criteria and to register those designees in a group designee user account. The practitioner or pharmacist is required to approve, maintain, and track the identifying information of each authorized designee in the group designee user account. Requires the division of professions and occupations (division) to solicit applications from public and private integration organizations and, on or before January 1, 2023, approve qualified integration organizations that practitioners and pharmacists may use to integrate the program with patient electronic medical records; and Subject to available funding, requires the division to implement a process whereby practitioners and pharmacists may apply for and receive reimbursement from the division for all or a portion of the costs of integrating the program with electronic medical records. $2,016,475 is appropriated from the prescription drug monitoring fund to the department of regulatory agencies for use by the division of professions and occupations. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Votes