Section 1.  Notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary, in order to improve the appropriate use of controlled substances and limit their misuse and diversion, there shall be established a special task force to make an investigation and study of the current and potential role, including the potential expansion, of the prescription monitoring program (PMP), created pursuant to joint regulations of the drug control program (see 105 CMR 700.006(J)) and the board of registration in pharmacy (see 247 CMR 5.04) within the department of public health.  The task force shall review the operation and effectiveness of similar programs in other states, consider extending the PMP data collection to include scheduled drugs in addition to Schedule II, and consider how best to use this information to enhance the quality and safety of patient care, health care access and affordability, and public safety.

 Section 2.  The task force shall consist of 12 members, 1 of whom shall be the secretary of health and human services or his designee, 1 of whom shall be the commissioner of the department of public health or his designee, 1 of whom shall be the director of the office of medicaid or his designee, 1 of whom shall be the senate chair of the joint committee on health care financing, 1 of whom shall be the house chair of the joint committee on health care financing, 1 representative from the massachusetts hospital association, 1 representative from the massachusetts association of community hospitals, 1 representative from the massachusetts medical society, 1 representative from the massachusetts association of health plans, 1 representative from the office of the attorney general, 1 representative of the massachusetts pharmacists association, and 1 representative of the massachusetts independent pharmacists association.  The task force shall be co-chaired by the senate and house chairpersons of the joint committee on health care financing and shall be convened by no later than 120 days after the effective date of this legislation.

Section 3.  The task force shall file a report, with recommendations including proposed legislation, with the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives within 120 days after it first convenes.