HCS SS SCS SB 85 -- MONITORING OF DRUGS

SPONSOR:  Champion (Dixon)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Health
Care Policy by a vote of 8 to 0.

This substitute changes the laws regarding drugs and controlled
substances.  In its main provisions, the substitute:

(1)  Revises the current list of controlled substances;

(2)  Requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to
develop a program, subject to appropriation, to monitor the
prescribing and dispensing of all Schedule II through Schedule V
controlled substances by all licensed professionals who prescribe
or dispense these substances in Missouri.  The dispenser is
required to electronically submit to the department information
for each prescription and the frequency of the submissions is
specified.  The department is allowed to issue a waiver to a
dispenser who is unable to submit the required information
electronically.  If a waiver is obtained, a dispenser can submit
the required information in paper format or by other approved
means.  All submitted prescription information is confidential.
Exceptions to this requirement include violations of the law or
breaches of professional standards which result in an
investigation and the submission or the release of prescription
information to authorized persons.  The release of non-personal,
general information is authorized for statistical educational,
and research purposes;

(3)  Authorizes the department to contract with other state
agencies or private vendors to implement the provisions of the
Drug Monitoring Act and requires the department to develop an
educational course about the act and, when appropriate, to work
with associations for impaired professionals to ensure the
intervention, treatment, and ongoing monitoring of patients who
have been identified as addicted to substances monitored by the
act; and

(4)  Requires a person selling pseudoephedrine products to keep a
written or electronic log of each transaction and specifies what
information must be recorded in the transaction log.

The provisions of the substitute regarding the Drug Monitoring
Act will expire six years from the effective date.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of $762,646
in FY 2008, $333,825 in FY 2009, and $336,666 in FY 2010.  No
impact on Other State Funds in FY 2008, FY 2009, and FY 2010.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill makes state law
consistent with federal regulations, and it is important to
continue efforts to restrict methamphetamine production.
Electronic monitoring will prevent the sale of products used to
make methamphetamine.  The intent is not to make doctors more
accountable, and there is no penalty for drugs used on an
as-needed basis.  The bill also eliminates law enforcement
officials from going from one pharmacy to another to investigate
leads.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Champion; and State Highway
Patrol.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:21 am