H97 - 2015 Appropriations Act, Sec. 12F.16(b)-(c): Requiring Continuing Education on Abuse of Controlled Substances for Health Care Providers Who Prescribe Controlled Substances (SL 2015-241)

Overview: Secs. 12F.16.(b) and (c) of S.L. 2015-241 direct the following health care provider occupational licensing boards to require continuing education on the abuse of controlled substances as a condition of license renewal:

• North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners.
• North Carolina Board of Nursing.
• North Carolina Board of Podiatry Examiners.
• North Carolina Medical Board.

In establishing the continuing education standards, these boards must require that at least one hour of the total required continuing education hours consists of a course designed specifically to address prescribing practices that includes instruction on controlled substance prescribing and prescribing for chronic pain management.

These sections became effective September 18, 2015.