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.