State Board of Pharmacy - Prescriber-Pharmacist Agreements - Treatment of Opioid Use Disorders
Summary
SB0562 expands Maryland’s prescriber-pharmacist agreement framework in two main ways. First, it adds licensed certified midwives to the definition of “authorized prescriber,” allowing them to enter into therapy management contracts with pharmacists. Second, it creates a new pathway for pharmacists, under specified conditions, to enter into agreements that authorize them to treat opioid use disorders using controlled dangerous substances drug therapy.
The bill also changes the filing and oversight process for these agreements. Instead of requiring authorized prescribers to submit agreements and modifications to their own health occupations board, the bill requires pharmacists who enter into these agreements to submit the agreement and any later changes to the Board of Pharmacy. In addition, any protocol that authorizes controlled dangerous substances drug therapy must require the pharmacist to request relevant data from the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program before starting or changing that therapy.
Impact
The bill amends Title 12, Subtitle 6A of the Health Occupations Article, affecting the legal authority of prescribers and pharmacists to collaborate on therapy management contracts. It broadens who may serve as an authorized prescriber, shifts certain reporting obligations to the Board of Pharmacy, and establishes specific prerequisites for pharmacists to provide opioid use disorder treatment with controlled dangerous substances, including DEA registration, state controlled substances registration, required training, and compliance with protocol requirements. It also adds a mandatory PDMP review step before initiating or modifying controlled dangerous substances therapy.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial in the legislature. It passed the Senate 45-0 and the House 127-0, indicating unanimous approval in both chambers. The absence of committee transcript material suggests there was little recorded public debate or opposition in the available materials.
Contention
No major points of contention are reflected in the voting record or available committee materials. The main policy considerations implied by the bill are patient safety and oversight in opioid use disorder treatment versus expanding pharmacist authority and access to care. Any concern would likely center on ensuring pharmacists have adequate training, registration, and monitoring before using controlled dangerous substances in treatment protocols, but no organized opposition is evident in the record provided.