Last week the House passed important legislation to create a prescription drug monitoring program in Missouri. HB130 would require the state Department of Health and Senior Services to establish and maintain an electronic system to track and monitor controlled substances that are prescribed and dispensed in Missouri.
Currently Missouri is the only state in the nation without a system to track controlled substances. This drug monitoring program benefits doctors and pharmacists, patients, and law enforcement.
First, doctors would be able to see a full list of controlled substances their patient has already been prescribed by other physicians. This allows them to assess what type of medication would best help their patients, avoiding treatment complications because of conflicting prescriptions. Pharmacists would also be able to review all controlled substances that have been prescribed to customers and give customers sound advice on dosage, diet, and ways different medicines may interact with each other.
Patients would have the benefit of fully informed medical professionals.
Finally law enforcement officials, local, state, and federal, would have access to information on controlled substances being prescribed and dispensed to patients. This would allow law enforcement to cut down on the amount of "stockpiling" of controlled substances intended for illegal sale.
This bill does not attempt to monitor every single prescription a patient fills at the pharmacy. Maintenance medications like blood pressure medicine, antibiotics, diabetes medications, and antidepressants would not be monitored. Only controlled substances such as OxyContin and Percocet would be part of the prescription drug monitoring program.
Our medical professionals -- doctors, nurse practitioners and pharmacists -- have taken an oath to do no harm. If passed by the Senate, HB130 can help them keep that oath, and benefit the health and well-being of all Missourians.
Finally, the passing of our State Auditor, Tom Schweich, has weighed heavily on my heart this past week. Tom was extremely intelligent and spent decades of his life in public service. I ask that you all keep his wife and children in your prayers.
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact my office at 573-751-4085 or email me at Don.Rone@house.mo.gov.