§ 4255. Vermont Prescription Drug Advisory Council

(a) There is hereby created the Vermont Prescription Drug Advisory Council for the purpose of advising the Commissioner of Health on matters related to the Vermont Prescription Monitoring System and to the appropriate use of controlled substances in treating acute and chronic pain and in preventing prescription drug abuse, misuse, and diversion.

(b)(1) The Advisory Council shall consist of the following members:

(A) the Commissioner of Health or designee, who shall serve as chair;

(B) the Deputy Commissioner of Health for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs or designee;

(C) the Commissioner of Mental Health or designee;

(D) the Commissioner of Public Safety or designee;

(E) the Commissioner of Labor or designee;

(F) the Vermont Attorney General or designee;

(G) the Director of the Blueprint for Health or designee;

(H) the Medical Director of the Department of Vermont Health Access;

(I) the Chair of the Board of Medical Practice or designee, who shall be a clinician;

(J) a representative of the Vermont State Dental Society, who shall be a dentist;

(K) a representative of the Vermont Board of Pharmacy, who shall be a pharmacist;

(L) a faculty member of the academic detailing program at the University of Vermont's College of Medicine;

(M) a faculty member of the University of Vermont's College of Medicine with expertise in the treatment of addiction or chronic pain management;

(N) a representative of the Vermont Medical Society, who shall be a primary care clinician;

(O) a representative of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Vermont chapter, who shall be a primary care clinician;

(P) a representative from the Vermont Board of Osteopathic Physicians, who shall be an osteopath;

(Q) a representative from the Vermont Association of Naturopathic Physicians, who shall be a naturopathic physician;

(R) a representative of the Federally Qualified Health Centers, who shall be a primary care clinician selected by the Bi-State Primary Care Association;

(S) a representative of the Vermont Ethics Network;

(T) a representative of the Hospice and Palliative Care Council of Vermont;

(U) a representative of the Office of the Health Care Advocate;

(V) a representative of health insurers, to be selected by the three health insurers with the most covered lives in Vermont;

(W) a clinician who works in the emergency department of a hospital, to be selected by the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems in consultation with any nonmember hospitals;

(X) a clinician who specializes in occupational medicine, to be selected by the Commissioner of Health;

(Y) a clinician who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation, to be selected by the Commissioner of Health;

(Z) a member of the Vermont Board of Nursing Subcommittee on APRN Practice, who shall be an advanced practice registered nurse who has clinical experience that includes working with patients who are experiencing acute or chronic pain;

(AA) a representative from the Vermont Assembly of Home Health and Hospice Agencies;

(BB) a psychologist licensed pursuant to 26 V.S.A. chapter 55 who has experience in treating chronic pain, to be selected by the Board of Psychological Examiners;

(CC) a drug and alcohol abuse counselor licensed pursuant to 26 V.S.A. chapter 62, to be selected by the Deputy Commissioner of Health for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs;

(DD) a retail pharmacist, to be selected by the Vermont Pharmacists Association;

(EE) an advanced practice registered nurse full-time faculty member from the University of Vermont's College of Nursing and Health Sciences with a current clinical practice that includes caring for patients with acute or chronic pain;

(FF) a licensed acupuncturist with experience in pain management, to be selected by the Vermont Acupuncture Association;

(GG) a representative of the Vermont Substance Abuse Treatment Providers Association;

(HH) a consumer representative who is either a consumer in recovery from prescription drug abuse or a consumer receiving medical treatment for chronic noncancer-related pain; and

(II) a consumer representative who is or has been an injured worker and has been prescribed opioids.

(2) In addition to the members appointed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection (b), the Council shall consult with the Opioid Prescribing Task Force, specialists, and other individuals as appropriate to the topic under consideration.

(c) Advisory Council members who are not employed by the State or whose participation is not supported through their employment or association shall be entitled to a per diem and expenses as provided by 32 V.S.A. § 1010.

(d)(1) The Advisory Council shall provide advice to the Commissioner concerning rules for the appropriate use of controlled substances in treating acute pain and chronic noncancer pain; the appropriate use of the Vermont Prescription Monitoring System; and the prevention of prescription drug abuse, misuse, and diversion.

(2) The Advisory Council shall evaluate the use of nonpharmacological approaches to treatment for pain, including the appropriateness, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of using complementary and alternative therapies such as chiropractic, acupuncture, and massage.

(e) The Commissioner of Health may adopt rules pursuant to 3 V.S.A. chapter 25 regarding the appropriate use of controlled substances in treating acute pain and chronic noncancer pain; the appropriate use of the Vermont Prescription Monitoring System; and the prevention of prescription drug abuse, misuse, and diversion, after seeking the advice of the Council. (Added 2015, No. 173 (Adj. Sess.), § 14; amended 2017, No. 113 (Adj. Sess.), § 84; 2019, No. 82, § 6.)