§34-24-61. Controlled substance registration certificate; continuing medical education; dismissal of revocation, etc.

(a) The State Board of Medical Examiners, when acting in the capacity of a certifying board under the Alabama Uniform Controlled Substances Act, Section 20-2-1, et seq., may, within its discretion and for cause, order, and direct that a physician or osteopath holding a registration certificate successfully complete a course or courses of continuing medical education on subjects related to the prescribing, dispensing, administering, or furnishing of controlled substances. The course or courses of continuing medical education ordered by the board under this section may not exceed 50 credit hours of instruction within the calendar year in which the order is entered. Failure or refusal to comply with an order or directive of the board entered pursuant to this section shall constitute grounds, after notice and hearing, for the suspension of the controlled substance registration certificate of the physician or osteopath in question which shall continue in effect until such time as the physician or osteopath has complied with the order of the board or the board has rescinded or withdrawn the order. The provisions of this section supersede any provisions of Sections 20-2-53 and 20-2-54 that are in conflict. A physician or osteopath adversely affected by a decision of the board to suspend his or her controlled substance registration certificate may obtain judicial review in accordance with the provisions of Section 20-2-53.

(b) Applications for reinstatement of a controlled substance registration certificate or for removal, termination, or modification of restrictions to a controlled substance registration certificate filed with the board less than 24 months following the effective date of the revocation, suspension, restriction, or surrender of a controlled substance registration certificate may, within the discretion of the board, be dismissed by the board without a hearing as prematurely filed. Applications filed more than 24 months following the effective date of the revocation, suspension, restriction, or surrender shall either be granted by the board or set for a hearing before the board which shall be conducted as a contested case under the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act.

(Act 2002-140, p. 359, §2; Act 2005-297, 1st Sp. Sess., p. 556, §1.)