WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor
(2) The Commission shall undertake efforts to develop a regional drug
review program of the Mid-Atlantic states for the purpose of collecting and compiling
relevant data in regard to patterns of improper prescribing or dispensing practices of all
drugs available by prescription.
E. Responsibilities of the Division of Drug Control.
(1) The Division of Drug Control shall collect, review, and analyze the
prescribing and dispensing patterns of persons authorized by law to prescribe or
dispense prescription drugs and incidences of patient abuse and misuse.
(2) The Division of Drug Control shall refer credible information
regarding illegal drug diversion or the abuse or misuse of prescription drugs to the
appropriate law enforcement agency for investigation.
(3) The Division of Drug Control shall analyze on an on-going basis
information regarding prescriber, dispenser, or patient abuse or misuse. The review of
prescribers shall focus on analyzing repeated patterns of prescribing prescription drugs
outside the normal medical practice standards. The review of dispensers shall focus on
analyzing the dispensing of prescription drugs where the rate of dispensation is higher
than what is considered normal for a comparable dispenser. The review of patients shall
focus on analyzing patterns of doctor or pharmacy shopping accompanied by high fill or
refill rates of drugs dispensed by prescription.
(4) Based upon its review of such cases, the Division of Drug Control shall
report any irregularities discovered to the appropriate State or federal agency or
disciplinary board.
(5) On a monthly basis, the Division of Drug Control shall submit a report
of its findings to the Commission. That report shall summarize the number and types of
abuses identified. The report shall also point out actions taken by a State or federal
agency or disciplinary board, the disposition of closed cases, and other relevant
statistical information that may interest or be useful to the Commission in carrying out
its responsibilities.
(6) The Division of Drug Control through the Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene shall promulgate regulations to implement this Executive Order.
F. Responsibilities of State Agencies and Disciplinary Boards.
(1) The appropriate law enforcement agency or disciplinary board shall
take appropriate action on creditable information regarding illegal drug diversion,
abuse or misuse of prescription drugs referred by the Division of Drug Control.
(2) A disciplinary board that receives referrals in regard to prescriber,
dispenser, or patient abuse or misuse of prescription drugs shall report, consistent with
applicable law, to the Division of Drug Control within 45 days of final disposition, the
manner in which the referrals were resolved.
(3) All State agencies and disciplinary boards shall cooperate with the
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