Wisconsin physicians are now required to follow an additional procedure before prescribing Schedule II, III, IV, and V controlled substances, or any other drug identified by the board by rule as having a substantial potential for abuse.

Beginning on April 1, 2017, under Wisconsin Statute 961.385, Wisconsin practitioners must review a patient's records in the Wisconsin Prescription Drug Monitoring Program before the practitioner issues a prescription order for the patient.

This requirement does not apply under the following circumstances:\

• The patient is receiving hospice care.
• The prescription is for a dosage that is intended to last 3 days or less and is not refillable.
• The monitored prescription drug is lawfully administered to the patient.
• Because of an emergency, it is not possible for the practitioner to review patient records before issuance of the prescription.
• The practitioner cannot review records because the program is not operational or due to some other technological failure (if the practitioner reports the failure to the board).