Evidence status: CURRENT PRESCRIBER-SCOPE AND PRESCRIPTION-MONITORING RECORD. Vermont’s opioid rule is written broadly for licensed health professionals authorized to prescribe controlled substances, while professional licensing authorities must maintain standards consistent with Department of Health rules.

Who the rule covers

The 2024 opioid rule defines a prescriber as a licensed health-care professional with authority to prescribe controlled substances. It is therefore not limited to physicians alone.

Professional licensing authorities

18 V.S.A. §4289 requires each professional licensing authority for health-care providers to develop evidence-based controlled-substance prescribing standards consistent with Department of Health rules. Those standards are reviewed for consistency across provider types.

Vermont Prescription Monitoring System

Vermont’s VPMS statute and rule require controlled-substance queries in defined circumstances. For opioid treatment, those include:

• At least annually for patients receiving ongoing treatment with a Schedule II, III, or IV opioid controlled substance.
• When starting nonpalliative long-term pain therapy expected to last 90 days or more.
• The first time an opioid Schedule II, III, or IV controlled substance is prescribed to treat chronic pain.
• Before writing a replacement prescription for a Schedule II, III, or IV controlled substance.

Why VPMS is separate from the agreement

VPMS querying is a separate legal monitoring duty. A clinic agreement may mention prescription-database review, but the source of that obligation is the statute and VPMS rule rather than the agreement itself.

Primary sources

• 18 V.S.A. §4289
• Vermont Prescription Monitoring System Rule
• Vermont Department of Health — VPMS

Reviewed: October 4, 2026.

Evidence boundary: The controlling professional standard may include additional license-specific requirements, but it cannot conflict with the statewide Department of Health rule.