42 USC 1396w-3a - Requirements relating to qualified prescription drug monitoring programs and prescribing certain controlled substances

U.S Code last checked for updates: Oct 16, 2024

§ 1396w–3a.

Requirements relating to qualified prescription drug monitoring programs and prescribing certain controlled substances

(a)

In general

Subject to subsection (d), beginning October 1, 2021, a State—

(1)

shall require each covered provider to check, in accordance with such timing, manner, and form as specified by the State, the prescription drug history of a covered individual being treated by the covered provider through a qualified prescription drug monitoring program described in subsection (b) before prescribing to such individual a controlled substance; and

(2)

in the case that such a provider is not able to conduct such a check despite a good faith effort by such provider—

(A)

shall require the provider to document such good faith effort, including the reasons why the provider was not able to conduct the check; and

(B)

may require the provider to submit, upon request, such documentation to the State.

(b)

Qualified prescription drug monitoring program described

A qualified prescription drug monitoring program described in this subsection is, with respect to a State, a prescription drug monitoring program administered by the State that, at a minimum, satisfies each of the following criteria:

(1)

The program facilitates access by a covered provider to, at a minimum, the following information with respect to a covered individual, in as close to real-time as possible:

(A)

Information regarding the prescription drug history of a covered individual with respect to controlled substances.

(B)

The number and type of controlled substances prescribed to and filled for the covered individual during at least the most recent 12-month period.

(C)

The name, location, and contact information (or other identifying number selected by the State, such as a national provider identifier issued by the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) of each covered provider who prescribed a controlled substance to the covered individual during at least the most recent 12-month period.

(2)

The program facilitates the integration of information described in paragraph (1) into the workflow of a covered provider, which may include the electronic system the covered provider uses to prescribe controlled substances.

A qualified prescription drug monitoring program described in this subsection, with respect to a State, may have in place, in accordance with applicable State and Federal law, a data-sharing agreement with the State Medicaid program that allows the medical director and pharmacy director of such program (and any designee of such a director who reports directly to such director) to access the information described in paragraph (1) in an electronic format. The State Medicaid program under this subchapter may facilitate reasonable and limited access, as determined by the State and ensuring documented beneficiary protections regarding the use of such data, to such qualified prescription drug monitoring program for the medical director or pharmacy director of any managed care entity (as defined under section 1396u–2(a)(1)(B) of this title) that has a contract with the State under section 1396b(m) of this title or under section 1396d(t)(3) of this title, or the medical director or pharmacy director of any entity that has a contract to manage the pharmaceutical benefit with respect to individuals enrolled in the State plan (or under a waiver of the State plan). All applicable State and Federal security and privacy laws shall apply to the directors or designees of such directors of any State Medicaid program or entity accessing a qualified prescription drug monitoring program under this section.

(c)

Application of privacy rules clarification

(d)

Ensuring access

(e)

Reports

(1)

State reports

Each State shall include in the annual report submitted to the Secretary under section 1396r–8(g)(3)(D) of this title, beginning with such reports submitted for 2023, information including, at a minimum, the following information for the most recent 12-month period:

(A)

The percentage of covered providers (as determined pursuant to a process established by the State) who checked the prescription drug history of a covered individual through a qualified prescription drug monitoring program described in subsection (b) before prescribing to such individual a controlled substance.

(B)

Aggregate trends with respect to prescribing controlled substances such as—

(i)

the quantity of daily morphine milligram equivalents prescribed for controlled substances;

(ii)

the number and quantity of daily morphine milligram equivalents prescribed for controlled substances per covered individual; and

(iii)

the types of controlled substances prescribed, including the dates of such prescriptions, the supplies authorized (including the duration of such supplies), and the period of validity of such prescriptions, in different populations (such as individuals who are elderly, individuals with disabilities, and individuals who are enrolled under both this subchapter and subchapter XVIII).

(C)

Whether or not the State requires (and a detailed explanation as to why the State does or does not require) pharmacists to check the prescription drug history of a covered individual through a qualified prescription drug monitoring program described in subsection (b) before dispensing a controlled substance to such individual.

(D)

An accounting of any data or privacy breach of a qualified prescription drug monitoring program described in subsection (b), the number of covered individuals impacted by each such breach, and a description of the steps the State has taken to address each such breach, including, to the extent required by State or Federal law or otherwise determined appropriate by the State, alerting any such impacted individual and law enforcement of the breach.

(2)

Report by CMS

Not later than October 1, 2023, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services shall publish on the publicly available website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services a report including the following information:

(A)

Guidance for States on how States can increase the percentage of covered providers who use qualified prescription drug monitoring programs described in subsection (b).

(B)

Best practices for how States and covered providers should use such qualified prescription drug monitoring programs to reduce the occurrence of abuse of controlled substances.

(f)

Increase to FMAP and Federal matching rates for certain expenditures relating to qualified prescription drug monitoring programs

(1)

In general

(2)

Condition

(g)

Rule of construction

(h)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Controlled substance

(2)

Covered individual

The term “covered individual” means, with respect to a State, an individual who is enrolled in the State plan (or under a waiver of such plan). Such term does not include an individual who—

(A)

is receiving—

(i)

hospice or palliative care; or

(ii)

treatment for cancer;

(B)

is a resident of a long-term care facility, of a facility described in section 1396d(d) of this title, or of another facility for which frequently abused drugs are dispensed for residents through a contract with a single pharmacy; or

(C)

the State elects to treat as exempted from such term.

(3)

Covered provider

(A)

In general

(B)

Exceptions

(i)

In general

(ii)

Exceptions process

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title XIX, § 1944, as added Pub. L. 115–271, title V, § 5042(a), Oct. 24, 2018, 132 Stat. 3967.)

cite as: 42 USC 1396w-3a