893.0551 Public records exemption for the prescription drug monitoring program. - Florida Statutes

893.0551 Public records exemption for the prescription drug monitoring program.

   (1) For purposes of this section, the term:

   (a) “Active investigation” has the same meaning as provided in s. 893.055.

   (b) “Dispenser” has the same meaning as provided in s. 893.055.

   (c) “Health care practitioner” or “practitioner” has the same meaning as provided in s. 893.055.

   (d) “Health care regulatory board” has the same meaning as provided in s. 893.055.

   (e) “Law enforcement agency” has the same meaning as provided in s. 893.055.

   (f) “Pharmacist” means any person licensed under chapter 465 to practice the profession of pharmacy.

   (g) “Pharmacy” has the same meaning as provided in s. 893.055.

   (h) “Prescriber” has the same meaning as provided in s. 893.055.

   (2) The following information of a patient or patient’s agent, a health care practitioner, a dispenser, an employee of the practitioner who is acting on behalf of and at the direction of the practitioner, a pharmacist, or a pharmacy that is contained in records held by the department under s. 893.055 is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution:

   (a) Name.

   (b) Address.

   (c) Telephone number.

   (d) Insurance plan number.

   (e) Government-issued identification number.

   (f) Provider number.

   (g) Drug Enforcement Administration number.

   (h) Any other unique identifying information or number.

   (3) The department shall disclose such confidential and exempt information to the following entities after using a verification process to ensure the legitimacy of that person’s or entity’s request for the information:

   (a) The Attorney General and his or her designee when working on Medicaid fraud cases involving prescription drugs or when the Attorney General has initiated a review of specific identifiers of Medicaid fraud regarding prescription drugs. The Attorney General or his or her designee may disclose the confidential and exempt information received from the department to a criminal justice agency as defined in s. 119.011 as part of an active investigation that is specific to a violation of prescription drug abuse or prescription drug diversion law as it relates to controlled substances. The Attorney General’s Medicaid fraud investigators may not have direct access to the department’s database.

   (b) The department’s relevant health care regulatory boards responsible for the licensure, regulation, or discipline of a practitioner, pharmacist, or other person who is authorized to prescribe, administer, or dispense controlled substances and who is involved in a specific controlled substances investigation for prescription drugs involving a designated person. The health care regulatory boards may request information from the department but may not have direct access to its database. The health care regulatory boards may provide such information to a law enforcement agency pursuant to ss. 456.066 and 456.073.

   (c) A law enforcement agency that has initiated an active investigation involving a specific violation of law regarding prescription drug abuse or diversion of prescribed controlled substances. The law enforcement agency may disclose the confidential and exempt information received from the department to a criminal justice agency as defined in s. 119.011 as part of an active investigation that is specific to a violation of prescription drug abuse or prescription drug diversion law as it relates to controlled substances. A law enforcement agency may request information from the department but may not have direct access to its database.

   (d) A health care practitioner who certifies that the information is necessary to provide medical treatment to a current patient in accordance with ss. 893.05 and 893.055.

   (e) A pharmacist who certifies that the requested information will be used to dispense controlled substances to a current patient in accordance with ss. 893.04 and 893.055.

   (f) A patient or the legal guardian or designated health care surrogate for an incapacitated patient, if applicable, making a request as provided in s. 893.055(7)(c)4.

   (g) The patient’s pharmacy, prescriber, or dispenser who certifies that the information is necessary to provide medical treatment to his or her current patient in accordance with s. 893.055.

   (4) The department shall disclose such confidential and exempt information to the applicable law enforcement agency in accordance with 1s. 893.055(7)(f). The law enforcement agency may disclose the confidential and exempt information received from the department to a criminal justice agency as defined in s. 119.011 as part of an active investigation that is specific to a violation of s. 893.13(7)(a)8., s. 893.13(8)(a), or s. 893.13(8)(b).

   (5) Any agency or person who obtains such confidential and exempt information pursuant to this section must maintain the confidential and exempt status of that information.

   (6) Any person who willfully and knowingly violates this section commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

   (7) This section is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15 and shall stand repealed on October 2, 2014, unless reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature.

History. s. 1, ch. 2009-197; s. 13, ch. 2010-211.

1

Note. Substituted by the editors for a reference to s. 893.055(7)(b)2., which does not exist; paragraph (7)(f) relates to provision of information to law enforcement agencies.