1. (a) Pursuant to Acts 2017, No. 820, a prescriber who prescribes scheduled drugs shall be required by the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners to register with the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program and access patient information before writing a prescription for an opioid.
2. (b) A practitioner who fails to access the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program as required is subject to disciplinary action by the board.

3. (c) Prescriber requirements.

   1. (1)

      1. (A) It is incumbent of dentists to prescribe sufficient but minimal opiate medications.
      2. (B) Any prescription for a Schedule II or Schedule III opiate shall not exceed the total maximum manufacturer’s recommended daily dose for a total of seven (7) days’ administration (seven (7) times the MRDD).
   2. (2) Patient record must be documented for need of any redosing.

   3. (3) Dentist shall check the information in the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program when prescribing:

      1. (A) An opioid from Schedule II or Schedule III for every time prescribing the medication to a patient; and
      2. (B) A benzodiazepine medication for the first time prescribing the medication to a patient.

   4. (4) Within the first two (2) years of being granted a license in the state, a prescriber shall obtain a minimum of three (3) hours of prescribing education approved by the board under this section, which shall include:

      1. (A) Option for online and in-person programs;
      2. (B) Information on prescribing rules, regulations, and laws that apply to individuals who are licensed in Arkansas; and
      3. (C) Information and instructions on:

4. (i) Prescribing controlled substances;

   1. (ii) Record keeping; and

      1. (iii) Maintaining safe and professional boundaries.
   2. (5) Current licensees in the state have until December 31, 2019, to complete the minimum three (3) hours of prescribing education referenced in subdivision (c)(4) of this section.

Codification Notes: "MRDD" means manufacturer's recommended daily dose.