Pennsylvania Act 2017-79 — ACHIEVING BETTER CARE BY MONITORING ALL PRESCRIPTIONS PROGRAM (ABC-MAP) ACT - REQUIREMENTS FOR PRESCRIBERS

Act text

Session of 2017

No. 2017-79

SB 728

AN ACT

Amending the act of October 27, 2014 (P.L.2911, No.191), entitled "An act providing for prescription drug monitoring; creating the ABC-MAP Board; establishing the Achieving Better Care by Monitoring All Prescriptions Program; and providing for unlawful acts and penalties," further providing for requirements for prescribers.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Section 8(a.1) of the act of October 27, 2014 (P.L.2911, No.191), known as the Achieving Better Care by Monitoring All Prescriptions Program (ABC-MAP) Act, added November 2, 2016 (P.L.980, No.124), is amended to read:

Section 8. Requirements for prescribers.

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(a.1) Query not required.--

(1) [If] Notwithstanding subsection (a), if a patient has been admitted to a licensed health care facility or is in observation status in a licensed health care facility, the prescriber does not need to query the system after [the] an initial query [under subsection (a)(1)] as long as the patient remains admitted to the licensed health care facility or remains in observation status in a licensed health care facility.

(2) If a patient is prescribed a nonnarcotic Schedule V controlled substance, as defined in the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, for the treatment of epilepsy or a seizure disorder, the prescriber does not need to query the system under subsection (a)(1).

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Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

APPROVED--The 22nd day of December, A.D. 2017.

TOM WOLF