AN ACT to require physicians who dispense the controlled substance BUPRENORPHINE FOR THE TREATMENT OF OPIATE DEPENDENCE to register with the department of health and human services.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 90‑101 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(a1)	Any physician who prescribes or dispenses Buprenorphine for the treatment of opiate dependence shall annually register with the Department, in accordance with rules adopted by the Commission. In the application for registration under this subsection, the applicant shall document plans to ensure that patients are directly engaged or referred to a qualified provider to receive counseling and case management, as appropriate, and shall acknowledge the application of federal confidentiality regulations to patient information. Applicant plans for referral to appropriate services shall be a written document and may include either an executed memorandum of agreement, contractual arrangement, or linkage agreement with qualified providers. The Department shall provide assistance upon request to physicians registered under this subsection to identify and establish linkages with qualified providers of counseling and case management. The Department shall provide the North Carolina Medical Board with any evidence of noncompliance with this subsection by a qualified physician prior to taking action to rescind the physician's registration to prescribe or dispense Buprenorphine for the treatment of opiate dependency."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2003.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 9th day of July, 2003.

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		 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

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		 James B. Black
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

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		 Michael F. Easley
	 Governor

Approved __________.m. this ______________ day of ___________________, 2003