March 25, 2010

Governor Proposes Prescription Monitoring Program

Program aimed at preventing “doctor shopping” for drugs

Dover, DE – Delaware Governor Jack Markell announced today a bill designed to create a prescription drug monitoring program aimed at preventing improper prescription practices and “doctor shopping” for drugs.  More than 34 states have similar prescription drug monitoring programs, which have the capacity to reduce the supply of available prescription drugs for abuse.  
 
Joined by Senators Bethany Hall-Long and Brian Bushweller, and Representatives Larry Mitchell and Melanie Marshall, the Governor announced the legislation in his Legislative Hall office.
 
The legislation would authorize the state’s Office of Controlled Substances to establish a database of prescription information from pharmacies in the state to be used for the prevention of prescription drug abuse.  Doctors would be able to check the database before giving prescriptions for controlled substances, to both check drug interactions and screen for possible drug abuse. Pharmacies, excluding those in healthcare facilities, would be required to report specific information to the program.
 
 “The abuse and diversion of prescription medication has reach an alarming level and is on the rise,” Markell said. “Delaware is not immune.  Robberies and burglaries of Delaware pharmacies are at an all-time high.    As much as possible, we want to prevent drugs from getting into the hands of drug abusers. States that have implemented prescription monitoring program have the capability to collect and analyze prescription data much more efficiently than states without such programs.”
 
Non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks second only to marijuana as the most prevalent category of drug abuse.  Some examples of the most abused controlled substances: Oxycontin, Vicodin, Adderall, Ketamine, Xanax, Valium, and Percocet.
 
“This is important legislation because prescription drug abuse affects all of us,” Senator Bushweller said.  “It increases prison costs.  It inflates costs to insurance companies. This kind of tool can help reduce the supply of these drugs by allowing health professionals to screen for possible abusers and dealers who want to re-sell these drugs in our communities.”  

The Delaware Medical Society has volunteered to help promote the use of the program by its members.  “Our members want more than anything to protect the health of their patients,” said Dr. Nicholas O. Biasotto, President of the Medical Society of Delaware.  “This legislation gives doctors an important new tool to do just that.  It will help our medical professionals identify critical risks to some patients’ health in a way that does not interfere with the delivery of care or add undue burdens to their offices.”
 
"Late last year, my subcommittee held a hearing examining controlled substance abuse and identified Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) as an effective tool to prevent and detect prescription drug misuse and diversion," said U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.).  "Instituting PDMPs in Delaware will help to crack down on Medicaid fraud and bring some stability to the state budget. I stand ready to offer any support or assistance Delaware may need in helping battle the epidemic of prescription drug abuse, and the financial and physical suffering it brings."
 
The legislation establishes criminal penalties for improperly accessing, utilizing or disclosing PMP information.