(a) There is created the Pain Management Review Committee, appointed by the Arkansas State Medical Board.
(b) The committee shall consist of five (5) members who are full-time active physicians in direct patient care, two (2) of whom may be board-certified pain management specialists and three (3) of whom may be physicians with significant pain management in their practices or with a degree in pharmacy, appointed by the board from a list provided by the Arkansas Osteopathic Medical Association, the Arkansas Medical Society, Inc., and the Arkansas Pain Society.
(c) The committee shall:
(1) Have committee representation from the Arkansas Osteopathic Medical Association, the Arkansas Medical Society, Inc., and the Arkansas Pain Society to develop guidelines for investigations of complaints regarding conduct in violation of this subchapter;
(2) Review complaints on an individual patient-needs basis regarding physicians treating chronic intractable pain in violation of this subchapter; and
(3)
(A) Provide an objective critique to the board for board determination in a timely manner and if so determined, before the board's disciplinary hearing.
(B) In order to ensure a fair, impartial, and objective board hearing, no board member shall be:
(i) Present while the committee reviews allegations of improper prescribing; or
(ii) Involved in any way in the committee's deliberations.