SB73 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Greg J. Reed

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Controlled substance database, access by board of nursing authorized for monitoring licensees, Sec. 20-2-214 am'd.

Summary

SB 73 would let the Alabama Board of Nursing access the controlled substances database to monitor how nurses who can prescribe or are prescribed controlled substances are using them, with added data-access rules and technical updates.

What This Bill Does

The bill authorizes the Alabama Board of Nursing to access the controlled substances database to monitor prescribing activities of authorized nurses and those prescribed controlled substances. It creates specific, limited access for various groups, including physicians, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, physician assistants, pharmacists, law enforcement, Medicaid, and investigators from relevant boards, all restricted to job-related information. It allows the release of de-identified aggregate data for research or educational purposes under a data-use agreement and requires updating the code language to current style. It also adds nonsubstantive technical revisions to the existing law.

Who It Affects

• Nurses who prescribe controlled substances (such as certified registered nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives with a Qualified Alabama Controlled Substances Registration Certificate) and nurses who are prescribed controlled substances, whose prescribing and use will be monitored by the Board of Nursing.
• Other health care providers and agencies (including physicians, physician assistants, pharmacists, state/local law enforcement, Alabama Medicaid, and investigators for the Alabama Board of Nursing) and researchers, who may access the database under defined limits to support oversight, investigations, and data analysis.

Key Provisions

• Authorized access to the database for: certifying boards (limited to licensees), and Board of Medical Examiners can inquire about CRNPs/CNMs with a QACSC.
• Licensed practitioners (prescribers) may access the database for themselves and related individuals (supervised registrants, joint practice, and collaborative practice arrangements) with the option for boards to require access.
• Up to two employees of a licensed physician may be designated to access the database on the physician's behalf.
• Licensed CRNPs or CNMs with QACSC may access information limited to current or prospective patients.
• Licensed assistants to physicians with QACSC may access information limited to current patients or those seeking treatment from the assistant.
• Licensed pharmacists may access information relevant to a patient or prescribing practitioner on a specific prescription; pharmacists are not required to access the database.
• State and local law enforcement and federal authorities may access the database under specified conditions.
• Department staff and consultants may access the database to operate, maintain, and conduct approved research.
• Authorized access for other states’ PDMPs recognized by interagency agreements, with limitations similar to Alabama's rules.
• Authorized representatives of Alabama Medicaid may access information limited to possible misuse or abuse by Medicaid recipients.
• Authorized representatives of the Alabama Board of Nursing may access information related to licensee investigations and disciplinary activities.
• De-identified statewide or regional data may be released for research or educational purposes under approved data-use agreements and privacy protections.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Nursing, Board of