TITLE 18. PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING

BOARD OF MEDICINE

Initial Agency Notice

Title of Regulation: 18VAC85-21. Regulations Governing Prescribing of Opioids and Buprenorphine.

Statutory Authority: §§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-2928.2 of the Code of Virginia.

Name of Petitioner: Virginia Society of Addiction Medicine.

Nature of Petitioner's Request: The petitioner requests that the Board of Medicine amend 18VAC85-21-150 and 18VAC85-21-160 to (i) remove provision of counseling services or provision of a referral for counseling services to the patient, (ii) remove documentation requirements of the rationale for prescriptions of buprenorphine that exceed 24 milligrams per day, and (iii) remove the restriction on prescribing buprenorphine to patients younger than 16 years of age.

Agency Plan for Disposition of Request: The petition for rulemaking will be published in the Virginia Register of Regulations on June 2, 2025. The petition will also be published on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall at www.townhall.virginia.gov to receive public comment, which opens June 2, 2025, and closes July 2, 2025. The board will consider the petition and all comments in support or opposition at the next meeting after the close of public comment. Currently that meeting is scheduled for August 1, 2025. The petitioner will be notified of the board's decision after that meeting.

Public Comment Deadline: July 2, 2025.

Agency Contact: Erin Barrett, Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, Department of Health Professions, Perimeter Center, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico, VA 23233, telephone (804) 750-3912, or email erin.barrett@dhp.virginia.gov.

VA.R. Doc. No. PFR25-43; Filed May 05, 2025, 2:59 p.m.