UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 936 Page 1 of 17 XXXX 2/6/2023 1:37 PM Jacketed AN ACT relating to prescriptive authority. 1 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2 Section 1. KRS 314.042 is amended to read as follows: 3 (1) An applicant for licensure to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse shall 4 file with the board a written application for licensure and submit evidence, verified 5 by oath, that the applicant: 6 (a) Has completed an education program that prepares the registered nurse for 7 one (1) of four (4) APRN roles that has been accredited by a national nursing 8 accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education; 9 (b) Is certified by a nationally established organization or agency recognized by 10 the board to certify registered nurses for advanced practice registered nursing; 11 (c) Is able to understandably speak and write the English language and to read the 12 English language with comprehension; and 13 (d) Has passed the jurisprudence examination approved by the board as provided 14 in subsection (13)[(12)] of this section. 15 (2) The board may issue a license to practice advanced practice registered nursing to an 16 applicant who holds a current active registered nurse license issued by the board or 17 holds the privilege to practice as a registered nurse in this state and meets the 18 qualifications of subsection (1) of this section. An advanced practice registered 19 nurse shall be: 20 (a) Designated by the board as a certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified 21 nurse midwife, certified nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist; and 22 (b) Certified in at least one (1) population focus. 23 (3) The applicant for licensure or renewal thereof to practice as an advanced practice 24 registered nurse shall pay a fee to the board as set forth in regulation by the board. 25 (4) An advanced practice registered nurse shall maintain a current active registered 26 nurse license issued by the board or hold the privilege to practice as a registered 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 936 Page 2 of 17 XXXX 2/6/2023 1:37 PM Jacketed nurse in this state and maintain current certification by the appropriate national 1 organization or agency recognized by the board. 2 (5) Any person who holds a license to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse 3 in this state shall have the right to use the title "advanced practice registered nurse" 4 and the abbreviation "APRN." No other person shall assume the title or use the 5 abbreviation or any other words, letters, signs, or figures to indicate that the person 6 using the same is an advanced practice registered nurse. No person shall practice as 7 an advanced practice registered nurse unless licensed under this section. 8 (6) Any person heretofore licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse under the 9 provisions of this chapter who has allowed the license to lapse may be reinstated on 10 payment of the current fee and by meeting the provisions of this chapter and 11 regulations promulgated by the board pursuant to the provisions of KRS Chapter 12 13A. 13 (7) The board may authorize a person to practice as an advanced practice registered 14 nurse temporarily and pursuant to applicable regulations promulgated by the board 15 pursuant to the provisions of KRS Chapter 13A if the person is awaiting licensure 16 by endorsement. 17 (8) (a) Except as authorized by subsection (9) of this section, before an advanced 18 practice registered nurse engages in the prescribing or dispensing of 19 nonscheduled legend drugs as authorized by KRS 314.011(8), the advanced 20 practice registered nurse shall enter into a written "Collaborative Agreement 21 for the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse's Prescriptive Authority for 22 Nonscheduled Legend Drugs" (CAPA-NS) with a physician licensed in 23 Kentucky that defines the scope of the prescriptive authority for nonscheduled 24 legend drugs. 25 (b) The advanced practice registered nurse shall notify the Kentucky Board of 26 Nursing of the existence of the CAPA-NS and the name of the collaborating 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 936 Page 3 of 17 XXXX 2/6/2023 1:37 PM Jacketed physician and shall, upon request, furnish to the board or its staff a copy of the 1 completed CAPA-NS. The Kentucky Board of Nursing shall notify the 2 Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure that a CAPA-NS exists and furnish the 3 collaborating physician's name. 4 (c) The CAPA-NS shall be in writing and signed by both the advanced practice 5 registered nurse and the collaborating physician. A copy of the completed 6 collaborative agreement shall be available at each site where the advanced 7 practice registered nurse is providing patient care. 8 (d) The CAPA-NS shall describe the arrangement for collaboration and 9 communication between the advanced practice registered nurse and the 10 collaborating physician regarding the prescribing of nonscheduled legend 11 drugs by the advanced practice registered nurse. 12 (e) The advanced practice registered nurse who is prescribing nonscheduled 13 legend drugs and the collaborating physician shall be qualified in the same or 14 a similar specialty. 15 (f) The CAPA-NS is not intended to be a substitute for the exercise of 16 professional judgment by the advanced practice registered nurse or by the 17 collaborating physician. 18 (g) The CAPA-NS shall be reviewed and signed by both the advanced practice 19 registered nurse and the collaborating physician and may be rescinded by 20 either party upon written notice to the other party and the Kentucky Board of 21 Nursing. 22 (9) (a) Before an advanced practice registered nurse may discontinue or be exempt 23 from a CAPA-NS required under subsection (8) of this section, the advanced 24 practice registered nurse shall have completed four (4) years of prescribing as 25 a certified nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse midwife, 26 or as a certified registered nurse anesthetist. For nurse practitioners and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 936 Page 4 of 17 XXXX 2/6/2023 1:37 PM Jacketed clinical nurse specialists, the four (4) years of prescribing shall be in a 1 population focus as defined in KRS 314.011. 2 (b) After four (4) years of prescribing with a CAPA-NS in collaboration with a 3 physician: 4 1. An advanced practice registered nurse whose license is in good standing 5 at that time with the Kentucky Board of Nursing and who will be 6 prescribing nonscheduled legend drugs without a CAPA-NS shall notify 7 that board that the four (4) year requirement has been met and that he or 8 she will be prescribing nonscheduled legend drugs without a CAPA-NS; 9 2. The advanced practice registered nurse will no longer be required to 10 maintain a CAPA-NS and shall not be compelled to maintain a CAPA-11 NS as a condition to prescribe after the four (4) years have expired, but 12 an advanced practice registered nurse may choose to maintain a CAPA-13 NS indefinitely after the four (4) years have expired; and 14 3. If the advanced practice registered nurse's license is not in good 15 standing, the CAPA-NS requirement shall not be removed until the 16 license is restored to good standing. 17 (c) An advanced practice registered nurse wishing to practice in Kentucky 18 through licensure by endorsement is exempt from the CAPA-NS requirement 19 if the advanced practice registered nurse: 20 1. Has met the prescribing requirements in a state that grants independent 21 prescribing to advanced practice registered nurses; and 22 2. Has been prescribing for at least four (4) years. 23 (d) An advanced practice registered nurse wishing to practice in Kentucky 24 through licensure by endorsement who had a collaborative prescribing 25 agreement with a physician in another state for at least four (4) years is 26 exempt from the CAPA-NS requirement. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 936 Page 5 of 17 XXXX 2/6/2023 1:37 PM Jacketed (10) (a) There is hereby established the "Collaborative Agreement for the Advanced 1 Practice Registered Nurse's Prescriptive Authority for Controlled 2 Substances" (CAPA-CS) Committee. The committee shall be composed of 3 four (4) members selected as follows: 4 1. Two (2) members shall be advanced practice registered nurses who 5 currently prescribe or have prescribed scheduled drugs, each 6 appointed by the Kentucky Board of Nursing from a list of names 7 submitted for each position by the Kentucky Association of Nurse 8 Practitioners and Nurse-Midwives; and 9 2. Two (2) members shall be physicians who have currently or had 10 previously a signed CAPA-CS with an advanced practice registered 11 nurse who prescribes scheduled drugs, each appointed by the 12 Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure from a list of names submitted 13 for each position by the Kentucky Medical Association. 14 (b) Within sixty (60) days of the effective date of this Act, the committee shall 15 develop a standardized CAPA-CS form to be used in accordance with the 16 provisions of subsection (11) of this section. The standardized CAPA-CS 17 form shall be used by all advanced practice registered nurses and all 18 physicians in Kentucky who enter into a CAPA-CS. 19 (c) The committee may be reconvened at the request of the Kentucky Board of 20 Nursing or the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure if it becomes 21 necessary to update the standardized CAPA-CS form. 22 (d) The Kentucky Board of Nursing and the Kentucky Board of Medical 23 Licensure shall each be responsible for and have exclusive authority over 24 their respective members appointed to the committee. 25 (e) The committee shall be attached to the Kentucky Board of Nursing for 26 administrative purposes. The Kentucky Board of Nursing shall be 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 936 Page 6 of 17 XXXX 2/6/2023 1:37 PM Jacketed responsible for the expenses of its members. The Kentucky Board of 1 Medical Licensure shall be responsible for the expenses of its members. 2 (f) The Kentucky Board of Nursing shall promulgate an administrative 3 regulation pursuant to KRS Chapter 13A within ninety (90) days of the 4 effective date of this Act to establish and implement the standardized CAPA-5 CS form developed by the committee. 6 (11) (a) Except as provided in subsections (14) and (15) of this section, before an 7 advanced practice registered nurse engages in the prescribing of Schedules II 8 through V controlled substances as authorized by KRS 314.011(8), the 9 advanced practice registered nurse shall enter into a written "Collaborative 10 Agreement for the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse's Prescriptive 11 Authority for Controlled Substances" (CAPA-CS) on a standardized CAPA-12 CS form with a physician licensed in Kentucky that defines the scope of the 13 prescriptive authority for controlled substances. 14 (b) The advanced practice registered nurse shall notify the Kentucky Board of 15 Nursing of the existence of the CAPA-CS and the name of the collaborating 16 physician and shall, upon request, furnish to the board or its staff a copy of the 17 completed standardized CAPA-CS form. The Kentucky Board of Nursing 18 shall notify the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure that a CAPA-CS exists 19 and furnish an executed copy of the Kentucky Board of Nursing notification 20 of a CAPA-CS completed by the advanced practice registered nurse to the 21 Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure[the collaborating physician's name]. 22 (c) The CAPA-CS shall be in writing and signed by both the advanced practice 23 registered nurse and the collaborating physician. A copy of the completed 24 standardized CAPA-CS form[collaborative agreement] shall be available at 25 each site where the advanced practice registered nurse is providing patient 26 care. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 936 Page 7 of 17 XXXX 2/6/2023 1:37 PM Jacketed (d) The CAPA-CS shall describe the arrangement for collaboration and 1 communication between the advanced practice registered nurse and the 2 collaborating physician regarding the prescribing of controlled substances by 3 the advanced practice registered nurse. 4 (e) The advanced practice registered nurse who is prescribing controlled 5 substances and the collaborating physician shall be qualified in the same or a 6 similar specialty. 7 (f) The CAPA-CS is not intended to be a substitute for the appropriate exercise 8 of professional judgment by the advanced practice registered nurse or by the 9 collaborating physician. 10 (g) The relevant statutes and regulations pertaining to the prescribing authority 11 of advanced practice registered nurses for controlled substances shall be 12 reviewed by the advanced practice registered nurse and the collaborating 13 physician at the outset of the CAPA-CS[Before engaging in the prescribing 14 of controlled substances, the advanced practice registered nurse shall: 15 1. Have been licensed to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse 16 for one (1) year with the Kentucky Board of Nursing; or 17 2. Be nationally certified as an advanced practice registered nurse and be 18 registered, certified, or licensed in good standing as an advanced 19 practice registered nurse in another state for one (1) year prior to 20 applying for licensure by endorsement in Kentucky]. 21 (h) Prior to prescribing controlled substances, the advanced practice registered 22 nurse shall obtain a Controlled Substance Registration Certificate through the 23 United States[U.S.] Drug Enforcement Administration[Agency]. 24 (i) The CAPA-CS shall be reviewed and signed by both the advanced practice 25 registered nurse and the collaborating physician and may be rescinded by 26 either party upon thirty (30) days written notice to the other party. The 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 936 Page 8 of 17 XXXX 2/6/2023 1:37 PM Jacketed advanced practice registered nurse shall notify the Kentucky Board of 1 Nursing that the CAPA-CS has been rescinded. The Kentucky Board of 2 Nursing shall notify the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure that the 3 CAPA-CS has been rescinded and shall furnish an executed copy of the 4 Kentucky Board of Nursing recission of a CAPA-CS completed by the 5 advanced practice registered nurse or by the collaborating physician to the 6 Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure[ and the Kentucky Board of Nursing]. 7 (j) The CAPA-CS shall state any[the] limits on controlled substances which may 8 be prescribed by the advanced practice registered nurse, as agreed to by the 9 advanced practice registered nurse and the collaborating physician. The limits 10 so imposed may be more stringent than either the schedule limits on 11 controlled substances established in KRS 314.011(8) or the limits imposed in 12 regulations promulgated by the Kentucky Board of Nursing thereunder. The 13 CAPA-CS shall also include any requirements, as agreed to by both the 14 advanced practice registered nurse and the collaborating physician, for 15 communication between the advanced practice registered nurse and the 16 collaborating physician. 17 (k) Within thirty (30) days of obtaining a Controlled Substance Registration 18 Certificate from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, and 19 prior to prescribing controlled substances, the advanced practice registered 20 nurse shall register with the electronic system for monitoring controlled 21 substances established by KRS 218A.202 and shall provide a copy of the 22 registration certificate to the board. 23 (l) After the effective date of this Act, for advanced practice registered nurses 24 who have not had a CAPA-CS: 25 1. An advanced practice registered nurse wishing to have a CAPA-CS in 26 his or her first year of licensure must be employed by a health care 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 936 Page 9 of 17 XXXX 2/6/2023 1:37 PM Jacketed entity or provider. If the employing provider is an advanced practice 1 registered nurse, he or she must have completed four (4) years of 2 prescribing with a CAPA-CS and no longer be required to maintain a 3 CAPA-CS; 4 2. In the first year of the CAPA-CS, the advanced practice registered 5 nurse and the physician shall meet at least quarterly, either in person 6 or via video conferencing, to review the advanced practice registered 7 nurse's reverse KASPER report or that of the prescription drug 8 monitoring program (PDMP) currently in use in Kentucky. The 9 advanced practice registered nurse and the collaborating physician 10 may meet via telephonic communication when an in-person meeting 11 or videoconferencing session is not logistically or technologically 12 feasible. The review of specific prescriptions identified in the reverse 13 KASPER report or that of the PDMP currently in use in Kentucky by 14 the advanced practice registered nurse and the collaborating physician 15 may include information from the patient's medical record that relates 16 to the condition or conditions being treated with controlled substances 17 by the advanced practice registered nurse to facilitate meaningful 18 discussion. A record of the meeting date, summary of discussions, and 19 any recommendations made shall be made in writing and a copy 20 retained by both parties to the agreement for a period of one (1) year 21 past the expiration of the CAPA-CS. The meeting records shall be 22 subject to audit by the Kentucky Board of Nursing for the advanced 23 practice registered nurse and by the Kentucky Board of Medical 24 Licensure for the physician. The sole purpose of the audit shall be to 25 document that the collaboration meetings have taken place as required 26 by this section and that other provisions of this section have been met; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 936 Page 10 of 17 XXXX 2/6/2023 1:37 PM Jacketed and 1 3. In the ensuing three (3) years of the CAPA-CS, the advanced practice 2 registered nurse and the physician shall meet at least biannually in 3 person or via video conferencing to review the advanced practice 4 registered nurse's reverse KASPER report or that of the PDMP 5 currently in use in Kentucky. The advanced practice registered nurse 6 and the collaborating physician may meet via telephonic 7 communication when an in-person meeting or videoconferencing 8 session is not logistically or technologically feasible. The review of 9 specific prescriptions identified in the reverse KASPER report or that 10 of the PDMP currently in use in Kentucky by the advanced practice 11 registered nurse and the collaborating physician may include 12 information from the patient's medical record that relates to the 13 condition or conditions being treated with controlled substances by the 14 advanced practice registered nurse to facilitate meaningful discussion. 15 A record of the meeting date, summary of discussions, and any 16 recommendations made shall be noted in writing and a copy retained 17 by both parties to the agreement for a period of one (1) year past the 18 expiration of the CAPA-CS. The meeting records shall be subject to 19 audit by the Kentucky Board of Nursing for the advanced practice 20 registered nurse and by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure for 21 the physician. The sole purpose of the audit shall be to document that 22 the collaboration meetings have taken place as required by this section 23 and that other provisions of this section have been met. 24 (12)[(11)] Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as requiring an advanced practice 25 registered nurse designated by the board as a certified registered nurse anesthetist to 26 enter into a collaborative agreement with a physician, pursuant to this chapter or 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 936 Page 11 of 17 XXXX 2/6/2023 1:37 PM Jacketed any other provision of law, in order to deliver anesthesia care. 1 (13)[(12)] The jurisprudence examination shall be prescribed by the board and be 2 conducted on the licensing requirements under this chapter and board regulations 3 and requirements applicable to advanced practice registered nursing in this 4 Commonwealth. The board shall promulgate administrative regulations in 5 accordance with KRS Chapter 13A, establishing the provisions to meet this 6 requirement. 7 (14) (a) Except as provided in subsection (15) of this section, an advanced practice 8 registered nurse who wishes to continue to prescribe controlled substances 9 may be exempt from a CAPA-CS required under subsection (11) of this 10 section if the advanced practice registered nurse has: 11 1. Completed four (4) years of prescribing authority for controlled 12 substances with a CAPA-CS; 13 2. Maintained a United States Drug Enforcement Administration 14 registration; and 15 3. Maintained a master account with KASPER or the PDMP currently in 16 use in Kentucky. 17 (b) On or after the effective date of this Act: 18 1. An advanced practice registered nurse who has had four (4) years of 19 prescribing authority with a CAPA-CS and who wishes to prescribe 20 controlled substances without a CAPA-CS shall submit, via the APRN 21 update portal, a request for review from the Kentucky Board of 22 Nursing that the advanced practice registered nurse's license is in 23 good standing; 24 2. An advanced practice registered nurse who has fewer than four (4) 25 years of prescribing authority with a CAPA-CS and who wishes to 26 prescribe controlled substances without a CAPA-CS shall complete the 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 936 Page 12 of 17 XXXX 2/6/2023 1:37 PM Jacketed required number of years under the then-current CAPA-CS to reach 1 four (4) years and shall submit, via the APRN update portal, a request 2 for review from the Kentucky Board of Nursing that the advanced 3 practice registered nurse's license is in good standing. However, if the 4 then current CAPA-CS expires or is rescinded prior to the end of the 5 four (4) year term, a new CAPA-CS shall be required and subject to 6 the provisions of this section; 7 3. The advanced practice registered nurse shall not prescribe controlled 8 substances without a CAPA-CS until the board has completed its 9 review and has notified the advanced practice registered nurse in 10 writing that the advanced practice registered nurse is exempt from the 11 CAPA-CS requirement; and 12 4. The review request shall include the payment of a fee set by the board 13 through the promulgation of an administrative regulation. 14 (c) Upon receipt of a request pursuant to this subsection, the Kentucky Board 15 of Nursing shall perform a review to determine whether the license of the 16 advanced practice registered nurse is in good standing based upon an 17 evaluation of the criteria specified in this subsection and in the 18 administrative regulation promulgated by the board pursuant to this 19 subsection, including but not limited to verification: 20 1. That a current United States Drug Enforcement Administration 21 registration certificate for the advanced practice registered nurse is on 22 file with the board; 23 2. That a current CAPA-CS notification for the advanced practice 24 registered nurse is on file with the board; 25 3. That the advanced practice registered nurse has an active master 26 account with the electronic system for monitoring controlled 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 936 Page 13 of 17 XXXX 2/6/2023 1:37 PM Jacketed substances pursuant to KRS 218A.202; 1 4. Through a criminal background check of the absence of any 2 unreported misdemeanor or felony convictions in Kentucky; and 3 5. Through a check of the coordinated licensure information system 4 specified in KRS 314.475 of the absence of any unreported 5 disciplinary actions in another state. 6 (d) Based on the findings of these actions, the Kentucky Board of Nursing shall 7 determine if the advanced practice registered nurse's license is in good 8 standing for the purpose of removing the requirement for the advanced 9 practice registered nurse to have a CAPA-CS in order to prescribe 10 controlled substances. 11 (e) If the advanced practice registered nurse's license is found to be in good 12 standing, the advanced practice registered nurse shall be notified by the 13 board in writing that a CAPA-CS is no longer required. The advanced 14 practice registered nurse shall not be required to maintain a CAPA-CS as a 15 condition to prescribe controlled substances unless the board later imposes 16 such a requirement as part of an action instituted under KRS 314.091(1). 17 An advanced practice registered nurse may choose to maintain a CAPA-CS 18 indefinitely after the determination of good standing has been made. An 19 advanced practice registered nurse who chooses to prescribe without a 20 CAPA-CS shall be held to the same standard of care as all other providers 21 with prescriptive authority. 22 (f) If the advanced practice registered nurse's license is found not to be in good 23 standing, the CAPA-CS requirement shall not be removed until the license 24 is restored to good standing, as directed by the board. 25 (g) The Kentucky Board of Nursing shall conduct random audits of the 26 prescribing practices of advanced practice registered nurses, including 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 936 Page 14 of 17 XXXX 2/6/2023 1:37 PM Jacketed those who are no longer required to have a CAPA-CS in order to prescribe, 1 through a review of data obtained from the KASPER report or that of the 2 PDMP currently in use in Kentucky and shall take disciplinary action under 3 KRS 314.091(1) if a violation has occurred. 4 (15) (a) An advanced practice registered nurse wishing to practice in Kentucky 5 through licensure by endorsement is exempt from the CAPA-CS 6 requirement if the advanced practice registered nurse: 7 1. Has met the prescribing requirements for controlled substances in a 8 state that grants such prescribing authority to advanced practice 9 registered nurses; 10 2. Has had authority to prescribe controlled substances for at least four 11 (4) years; and 12 3. Has a license in good standing as described in subsection (14) of this 13 section and in the administrative regulation promulgated by the board 14 pursuant to subsection (14) of this section. 15 (b) An advanced practice registered nurse wishing to practice in Kentucky 16 through licensure by endorsement who has had the authority to prescribe 17 controlled substances for less than four (4) years and wishes to continue to 18 prescribe controlled substances shall enter into a CAPA-CS with a 19 physician licensed in Kentucky and comply with the provisions of this 20 section until the cumulative four (4) year requirement is met, after which 21 the advanced practice registered nurse who wishes to prescribe controlled 22 substances without a CAPA-CS shall follow the process identified in 23 subsection (14) of this section and in the administrative regulation 24 promulgated by the board pursuant to subsection (14) of this section. 25 (16) An advanced practice registered nurse shall not prescribe controlled substances 26 without a CAPA-CS until the board has completed its review and has notified the 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 936 Page 15 of 17 XXXX 2/6/2023 1:37 PM Jacketed advanced practice registered nurse in writing that the advanced practice 1 registered nurse is exempt from the CAPA-CS requirement. 2 SECTION 2. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 218A IS CREATED TO 3 READ AS FOLLOWS: 4 (1) The Controlled Substances Prescribing Council is hereby established under the 5 Office of the Inspector General. The council shall consist of the following fifteen 6 (15) members: 7 (a) The Inspector General of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, who 8 shall serve as chair of the council; 9 (b) The executive director of the Office of Drug Control Policy; 10 (c) Two (2) currently licensed prescribers of scheduled drugs selected by the 11 Kentucky Board of Dentistry, one (1) of whom shall be a dentist and one (1) 12 of who shall be an oral surgeon; 13 (d) Four (4) licensed physicians who currently prescribe scheduled drugs 14 selected by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure, one (1) of whom shall 15 have a specialty in primary care, one (1) of whom shall have a specialty in 16 emergency medicine, one (1) of whom shall have a specialty in psychiatry or 17 addiction medicine, and one (1) of whom shall have a specialty in pain 18 management; 19 (e) Four (4) licensed advanced practice registered nurses who currently 20 prescribe scheduled drugs selected by the Kentucky Board of Nursing, one 21 (1) of whom shall have a specialty in primary care, one (1) whom shall have 22 a specialty in acute care, one (1) of whom shall have a specialty in 23 psychiatric mental health or addiction, and one (1) of whom shall have a 24 specialty in pain management; 25 (f) One (1) licensed prescriber of scheduled drugs selected by the Kentucky 26 Board of Optometric Examiners; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 936 Page 16 of 17 XXXX 2/6/2023 1:37 PM Jacketed (g) One (1) licensed prescriber of scheduled drugs selected by the Kentucky 1 Board of Podiatry; and 2 (h) One (1) licensed pharmacist selected by the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy. 3 (2) The council shall meet at least quarterly to discuss matters relating to the safe 4 and appropriate prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances, including: 5 (a) The review of quarterly reports issued by the Office of the Inspector General 6 pursuant to KRS 218A.202(17) to identify potential improper, inappropriate, 7 or illegal prescribing or dispensing of controlled substances by examining 8 aggregate patterns of prescribing by profession of the prescriber and county 9 where the medication was prescribed and dispensed; 10 (b) Recommendations for improvements in data collection and reporting by the 11 electronic system for monitoring controlled substances pursuant to KRS 12 218A.202; 13 (c) Recommendations for best prescribing practices based on up-to-date 14 research; 15 (d) Recommendations to the professional licensing boards for actions to aid in 16 enforcing current law, reviewing prescribing and dispensing data, and 17 correcting improper, inappropriate, or illegal prescribing or dispensing of a 18 controlled substance; and 19 (e) Development and communication of any recommendations, based on review 20 of data or research, to each licensure board. The licensure boards shall 21 respond in writing to the panel within ninety (90) days of receiving the 22 recommendations with an explanation of their response to the 23 recommendations. 24 (3) The council may request information from the licensure boards regarding their 25 procedures for conducting investigations and taking actions regarding the 26 possible improper, inappropriate, or illegal prescribing or dispensing of 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 936 Page 17 of 17 XXXX 2/6/2023 1:37 PM Jacketed controlled substances. 1 (4) On or before December 31, 2024, and each December 31 thereafter, the council 2 shall submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislative Research 3 Commission. The annual report shall: 4 (a) List the council’s meeting dates and topics for the preceding year; 5 (b) Provide relevant statistical information, including a summary of the 6 aggregate patterns by profession of prescriber and by county, of potential 7 improper, inappropriate, or illegal prescribing or dispensing of a controlled 8 substance; 9 (c) Describe the efforts made by the council to share information among the 10 licensure boards related to improving the safe and appropriate prescribing 11 and dispensing of controlled substances; 12 (d) Summarize responses received from the licensure boards to the panel’s 13 recommendations; and 14 (e) Provide any policy recommendations, including recommendations for 15 statutory or administrative regulation changes intended to improve 16 prescribing and dispensing practices and prevent improper, inappropriate, 17 or illegal prescribing or dispensing of controlled substances. 18 (5) The council shall not make any recommendations related to the scope of practice 19 of any prescribing or dispensing professionals. 20 (6) The council shall be attached to the Office of the Inspector General for 21 administrative purposes. 22 (7) Members shall not receive any additional compensation for their service on the 23 council but shall be reimbursed for all necessary expenses. 24