Bill > SB233

This bill modifies Maryland's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) by expanding the definition of "dispenser" to explicitly include veterinarians licensed under the Agriculture Article when they are dispensing controlled substances for animals in the usual course of providing professional services. The bill removes previous language that excluded veterinarians from the definition of dispensers and updates the confidentiality provisions to clarify that veterinarians are generally not entitled to access prescription monitoring data, unlike other healthcare practitioners. The changes aim to more precisely define who is required to report and access prescription drug information within the monitoring program. The bill also makes some technical adjustments to definitions related to prescription drugs, monitored substances, and the licensing entities involved in the program. These modifications will help streamline the reporting and monitoring of controlled substance prescriptions across different types of healthcare providers, with a particular focus on clarifying the role and responsibilities of veterinarians in the prescription drug monitoring system. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, providing ample time for affected parties to understand and implement the new requirements.

Budget and Finance

Finance (Senate)

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0233?ys=2025RS