HB270 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

April WeaverSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, revise definitions, create a review committee, Secs. 20-2-211, 20-2-212, 20-2-214, 20-2-215 am'd.

Summary

HB 270 would update Alabama's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program by revising definitions, creating two oversight committees, and allowing de-identified data to be shared for research and education while strengthening privacy and access rules.

What This Bill Does

It revises PDMP definitions and adds two committees: the Controlled Substances Prescription Database Advisory Committee, which guides database operations and security, and the Information Release Review Committee, which evaluates requests for information. It authorizes the release or publication of de-identified aggregate statewide and regional data for statistical, research, or educational purposes under a written data use agreement and proper de-identification. It creates the Alabama State Controlled Substance Database Trust Fund to manage related funds. It expands who may access PDMP data (various boards, licensed practitioners, law enforcement, Medicaid, state staff, and other states) but requires approval from the review committee and maintains strict confidentiality and non-public-record status for PDMP information.

Who It Affects

• Healthcare providers and licensing boards (e.g., pharmacists, physicians, nurse practitioners, dentists) who may access PDMP data under defined limits and must follow board rules; access is not automatically required, but boards may impose requirements.
• Researchers, educational institutions, state agencies (such as Medicaid), and law enforcement who may request de-identified or restricted data through the review process and data-use agreements; privacy protections apply and identifiable data access is tightly controlled.

Key Provisions

• Amends Sections 20-2-211, 20-2-212, 20-2-214, and 20-2-215 to revise PDMP definitions and authority.
• Creates the Controlled Substances Prescription Database Advisory Committee to advise on database operation, access, and security.
• Creates the Information Release Review Committee to evaluate statistical, research, or educational data requests.
• Allows release or publication of de-identified aggregate statewide and regional data under a written data use agreement and proper de-identification standards.
• Establishes the Alabama State Controlled Substance Database Trust Fund to manage funding for the PDMP.
• Specifies who may access PDMP data (boards, practitioners, law enforcement, Medicaid, state staff, and other states) and requires approval by the review committee; keeps data access governed by strict confidentiality rules.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Prescription Drugs