1. (a) The Board shall promulgate specific guidelines for dentists for the responsible prescribing of opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or carisoprodol.

2. (b) The Board shall periodically access a dentist's prescription information through the Prescription Monitoring Program to determine whether they are engaging in potentially harmful prescribing patterns or practices. This determination will be based on:

   1. (1) the number of times a dentist prescribes opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or carisoprodol; and
   2. (2) patterns of prescribing combinations of those drugs and other dangerous combinations identified by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.
3. (c) The Board shall notify a dentist if the agency discovers that the dentist may be engaging in potentially harmful prescribing patterns or practices.
4. (d) The Board may open a complaint against a dentist if the agency finds evidence during a periodic check that the dentist is engaging in conduct that violates any laws or rules related to the practice of dentistry.
5. (e) This rule is effective on September 1, 2019, in accordance with H.B. 2561 of the 85th Texas Legislature.

Source Note:The provisions of this §111.4 adopted to be effective March 18, 2018, 43 TexReg 1436.