Pubdate: Tue, 03 Feb 2004
Source: Birmingham News, The (AL)
Copyright: 2004 The Birmingham News
Contact:  http://al.com/birminghamnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/45
Author: Dave Parks

PRESCRIPTION DATABASE AMONG NEW BILLS

A bill that would create a prescription database to help stop the abuse of 
powerful painkillers is among a host of medical measures the state 
Legislature is considering in its regular session that begins today.

Senate Bill 35, filed by Sen. Larry Means of Attalla, would allow the state 
Department of Public Health to create and maintain the database. The 
database would hold information from prescriptions written for drugs that 
contain controlled substances such as morphine and codeine.

Several states are creating similar databases to help prosecute doctors who 
over-prescribe narcotic drugs or patients who "doctor shop" to obtain 
several prescriptions for controlled drugs.

Police, medical regulators and practitioners would have access to the 
confidential information while conducting investigations, said Charles 
Thomas, state pharmacy director at the Department of Public Health. The 
information would not be used to initiate an investigation, he said.

Thomas said there would be safeguards to protect the privacy of patients, 
and the law establishes penalties for unauthorized release of information.

Officials already have authority to use this information, but the database 
would make it easier to gather, Thomas said.

The system would require doctors, pharmacists and veterinarians to send 
prescription information to the state.

The database would be maintained with $10 fees assessed against every 
doctor and veterinarian licensed to prescribe highly controlled 
medications. The fee is expected to raise $180,000 a year, Thomas said.

Other health-related bills that have been filed for consideration by the 
Legislature include:

Senate Bill 40 to create a voluntary check-off on the state income tax form 
for the Alabama Organ Center Awareness Fund.

Senate Bill 43 to create an Alabama State Board of Respiratory Therapy to 
maintain a system for licensing respiratory therapists.

Senate Bill 12 to require health insurance plans to pay for diabetes 
services, including out-patient self-management. House Bill 79 would 
require coverage of colorectal cancer exams and lab tests.

House Bill 73 to require students at all public and some private 
institutions of higher education to be vaccinated against hepatitis B.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom