CQ TODAY – HEALTH
July 29, 2005 – 9:55 p.m.
Senate Clears Measure to Create Tracking Systems to Curb Prescription Drug Abuse
By Kate Schuler, CQ Staff
The Senate cleared legislation July 29 that would help set up databases for doctors and pharmacists to track prescriptions.

The measure (HR 1132) is aimed at reducing the abuse of prescription drugs and dangerous drug interactions.
The Senate passed the bill by voice vote, sending it to President Bush for his signature. The House passed the measure on July 27 by voice vote.

The bill would establish standards for reporting drug prescriptions and maintaining electronic records. It would authorize $60 million over five years for grants to states to establish or improve reporting systems.

Electronic record-keeping of the use of controlled substances is intended to prevent “doctor shopping” by addicts who receive multiple prescriptions from different doctors — often in different states.

Fighting <Oxycontin> Abuse

Supporters of the bill say the databases are a necessary response to the growing abuse of prescription drugs such as the painkiller <Oxycontin.

The databases also could be used to help doctors and pharmacists avoid potentially harmful drug interactions.
Sponsored by Edward Whitfield, a Kentucky Republican, the legislation would authorize a state to share prescription data with other states, as well as health care providers and law enforcement agents, if it certified that the information would be used to treat a patient or for a specific investigation.

Some Democrats had hoped to step up the privacy protections in the bill, but sponsors said the safeguards were sufficient and that such protections would best be addressed in separate data privacy legislation.

Twenty states have versions of such a tracking system in place, and the bill would require states setting up new databases to ensure that their data could be easily shared with neighboring states.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved its companion legislation (S 518), sponsored by Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., by voice vote May 25.

CQ WEEKLY – WEEKLY REPORT
HEALTH
Aug. 1, 2005 – Page 2131
Doctors, Pharmacists Would Be Able To Track Patients’ Prescriptions Under Bill
By Kate Schuler, CQ Staff

A bill that would make it easier for doctors and pharmacists to track all drugs dispensed to a particular patient was cleared by Congress last week.

The House passed the bill (HR 1132) by voice vote July 27, and the Senate cleared it by voice vote July 29. It would set up a system for reporting prescriptions and maintaining electronic records. It would authorize grants to states to establish or improve reporting systems.

Electronic record-keeping of patients’ prescription drug use is intended to prevent “doctor shopping” by addicts who receive multiple prescriptions from different doctors — often in different states.

Under the bill, sponsored by Edward Whitfield, R-Ky., states would be authorized to share prescription data with health care providers, law enforcement agents and other states. Twenty states have versions of such a tracking system in place, and the bill requires states setting up new databases to ensure that their data can be easily shared with neighboring states.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee had approved companion legislation (S 518) by voice vote May 25.

Source: CQ Weekly
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