This report documents legislative and agency actions undertaken in response to PED’s 2014 report, North Carolina Needs to Strengthen Its System for Monitoring and Preventing the Abuse of Prescribed Controlled Substances.

Follow-up Report

Relevant Legislation:

• Session Law 2015-241, Section 12F.16 requires adoption of statewide opioid prescribing guidelines and continuing education on the abuse of controlled substances for practitioners; directs the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to improve Controlled Substances Reporting System (CSRS) access and utilization, improve the CSRS contract, and expand CSRS monitoring capacity; directs the Division of Medical Assistance (DMA) to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Medicaid lock-in program; and creates the Prescription Drug Abuse Advisory Committee and directs it to develop a statewide strategic plan and performance management system to combat prescription drug abuse.
• Senate Bill 609 (2015–16): An act to require prescribers and dispensers to review information in the Controlled Substances Reporting System prior to prescribing or dispensing a controlled substance to a patient and to make a violation of that requirement a criminal offense. This legislation was not enacted.