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<section article="ghg" article_name="Health - General" number="8-1102" title_number="8" title_name="Substance Use Disorders Law" subtitle_number="11" subtitle_name="Opioid Addiction Treatment Prescribers">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Nonpreferred medication” means a medication prescribed to treat an opioid use disorder that contains methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone and is not on the State’s preferred drug list.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Preferred medication” means a medication prescribed to treat an opioid use disorder that contains methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone and is on the State’s preferred drug list.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The Department shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Adopt a reporting system to monitor the prescribing of medications to treat opioid use disorders in the State, including which medications are being prescribed;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Analyze patterns of prescribing medications in the State to identify prescribers who regularly prescribe nonpreferred medications, including a comparison of the patterns to the findings of the report submitted under subsection (d) of this section;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Conduct outreach to individuals authorized to prescribe drugs and devices in the State using educational materials regarding the benefits of prescribing preferred medications; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Identify barriers to individuals who need medication to treat an opioid use disorder to obtaining the medication in a timely manner.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>On or before October 1 each year, beginning in 2023, the Department shall report on its findings and actions taken under subsection (b) of this section to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>On or before October 1, 2022, the Department shall submit a report with an initial analysis of the items listed under subsection (b) of this section to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly.</text>
  </level>
</section>
