News (Media Awareness Project) - US VT: Rx Drug Database Approved |
| Title: | US VT: Rx Drug Database Approved |
| Published On: | 2006-01-14 |
| Source: | Bennington Banner (VT) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-14 18:55:37 |
RX DRUG DATABASE APPROVED
MONTPELIER -- The Senate on Friday gave final approval to a bill that
would create a drug database to help prevent the illegal use of
prescription drugs.
The electronic database would hold information about prescriptions
written or filled. The database is designed to crack down on the
illegal use or sale of dangerous drugs, such as painkillers OxyContin
and Percocet, which has become a problem in Vermont, officials said.
"A surprising number of heroin addicts first became addicted to
prescription drugs," said Sen. James Leddy, D-Chittenden, a member of
the Judiciary Committee that drafted the bill. The state is seeing "a
tremendous impact from the abuse of legally prescribed medicines."
The bill now goes to the House where it is expected to be reviewed by
the Judiciary and Health Care committees.
A $350,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice will pay for the database.
The way the system would work is that doctors and pharmacists would
enter information as they write or fill prescriptions. Through the
database, they would be able to look over patients' records to
prevent numerous prescriptions for one sickness or conflicting prescriptions.
The database would help stop "doctor shopping" where people who want
drugs get more than one prescription for the same affliction or seek
out doctors who may be more inclined to write prescriptions, Leddy said.
The Senate on Thursday addressed privacy concerns about the database
that have been raised. A compromise approved by the Senate would
prevent law enforcement from getting access to the database directly.
Only the panels that review conduct of physicians and pharmacists
could get into the database. The state's health commissioner could
then forward a case that needs to be investigated to police.
"The only time the commissioner can do that is when there is a
substantial health and safety threat," said Allen Gilbert, executive
director of the Vermont American Civil Liberties Union. "It is a
fundamentally different bill than when they started."
MONTPELIER -- The Senate on Friday gave final approval to a bill that
would create a drug database to help prevent the illegal use of
prescription drugs.
The electronic database would hold information about prescriptions
written or filled. The database is designed to crack down on the
illegal use or sale of dangerous drugs, such as painkillers OxyContin
and Percocet, which has become a problem in Vermont, officials said.
"A surprising number of heroin addicts first became addicted to
prescription drugs," said Sen. James Leddy, D-Chittenden, a member of
the Judiciary Committee that drafted the bill. The state is seeing "a
tremendous impact from the abuse of legally prescribed medicines."
The bill now goes to the House where it is expected to be reviewed by
the Judiciary and Health Care committees.
A $350,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice will pay for the database.
The way the system would work is that doctors and pharmacists would
enter information as they write or fill prescriptions. Through the
database, they would be able to look over patients' records to
prevent numerous prescriptions for one sickness or conflicting prescriptions.
The database would help stop "doctor shopping" where people who want
drugs get more than one prescription for the same affliction or seek
out doctors who may be more inclined to write prescriptions, Leddy said.
The Senate on Thursday addressed privacy concerns about the database
that have been raised. A compromise approved by the Senate would
prevent law enforcement from getting access to the database directly.
Only the panels that review conduct of physicians and pharmacists
could get into the database. The state's health commissioner could
then forward a case that needs to be investigated to police.
"The only time the commissioner can do that is when there is a
substantial health and safety threat," said Allen Gilbert, executive
director of the Vermont American Civil Liberties Union. "It is a
fundamentally different bill than when they started."
Member Comments |
No member comments available...
