1. (a) Access to Programs.—

   1. (1) Any licensed health care provider or delegate of such a provider shall be considered an authorized recipient or user for the purpose of querying and receiving data from the national network of State-based prescription drug monitoring programs to support the safe and effective prescribing of controlled substances to covered patients.

   2. (2) Under the authority granted by paragraph (1)—

      1. (A) licensed health care providers or delegates of such providers shall query such network in accordance with applicable regulations and policies of the Veterans Health Administration; and
      2. (B) notwithstanding any general or specific provision of law, rule, or regulation of a State, no State may restrict the access of licensed health care providers or delegates of such providers from accessing that State’s prescription drug monitoring programs.
   3. (3) No State shall deny or revoke the license, registration, or certification of a licensed health care provider or delegate who otherwise meets that State’s qualifications for holding the license, registration, or certification on the basis that the licensed health care provider or delegate queried or received data, or attempted to query or receive data, from the national network of State-based prescription drug monitoring programs under this section.

2. (b) Covered Patients.— For purposes of this section, a covered patient is a patient who—

   1. (1) receives a prescription for a controlled substance; and
   2. (2) is not receiving palliative care or enrolled in hospice care.

3. (c) Definitions.— In this section:

   1. (1) The term “controlled substance” has the meaning given such term in section 102(6) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802(6)).
   2. (2) The term “delegate” means a person or automated system accessing the national network of State-based prescription monitoring programs at the direction or under the supervision of a licensed health care provider.
   3. (3) The term “licensed health care provider” means a health care provider employed by the Department who is licensed, certified, or registered within any State to fill or prescribe medications within the scope of his or her practice as a Department employee.
   4. (4) The term “national network of State-based prescription monitoring programs” means an interconnected nation-wide system that facilitates the transfer to State prescription drug monitoring program data across State lines.
   5. (5) The term “State” means a State, as defined in section 101(20) of this title, or a political subdivision of a State.

(Added Pub. L. 115–182, title I, § 134(a), June 6, 2018, 132 Stat. 1428.)