Posted: | August 23, 2016 01:52 PM |
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From: | Representative Gene DiGirolamo |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Strengthening the Prescription Monitoring Program (ABC-MAP) |
In the near future I plan to introduce legislation amending and strengthening the Achieving Better Care by Monitoring All Prescriptions Program (ABC-MAP) Act. The new prescription monitoring program which we enacted two years ago is going live this week. In a nutshell, there will now be a systematic way for prescribers and dispensers in Pennsylvania to observe their patients’ use of controlled substances. It will be a health care tool which we hope will cut down on the abuse and misuse of powerful prescription drugs. Among all controlled substances, painkillers like Oxycontin and Vicodin will be monitored. If doctor shopping behaviors are noted, the database will allow for a therapeutic moment when that patient can be referred to treatment for their addiction. Current law mandates that prescribers are required to check the database only when seeing a new patient for the first time. My legislation will require that prescribers query the system every time a controlled substance is prescribed for every patient. This will serve as a wonderful tool in our fight against prescription drug abuse. My legislation will strengthen the provisions related to prescriber query of the system to mandate that it be used every time. I urge you to join me in co-sponsorship of this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB2314