JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri is closer to finally having a statewide prescription drug monitoring program now that the Senate has approved legislation to establish the Narcotics Control Act. State Senator Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville, guided the bill through a late-night filibuster earlier this week, and the bill passed the Senate Thursday.
The passage of the legislation ends nearly a decade of opposition in the Senate that left Missouri as the only state in America without a statewide system of tracking prescription narcotics. Passage of the bill has been a priority for Sen. Luetkemeyer since he was sworn into the senate. The measure must go to the House of Representatives for final approval.
“This legislation will provide an important tool for medical professionals to identify patients who may be in the grips of an opioid addiction and get them help,” Sen. Luetkemeyer. “I am pleased that the Senate was able to come together to overcome long-standing objections to this important legislation.”
Following more than eight hours of discussion in the Senate chamber, a compromise was reached that moves oversight of the system from the Department of Health and Senior Services to a newly-created taskforce consisting of private physicians and prescribers. The bill also limits access of the database to medical providers for use in patient treatment.
Under the bill, medical information would not be accessible by law enforcement or any other governmental entity. Strict penalties would result if confidentially is breached. It also provides protections for Second Amendment Rights, stating that information in the database cannot be used to deny someone a firearms license. The state prescription drug monitoring program will replace the current system operating in St. Louis County, which tracks the medical information of approximately 85 percent of the state’s population.
“The final bill that passed the senate will protect patient privacy in a way the current patchwork system in St. Louis County does not,” Sen. Luetkemeyer. “For anyone concerned about patient privacy and public safety, this bill is truly a win-win.”
“Missouri physicians have long coveted a statewide prescription drug monitoring program,” said Jeff Howell, director of government relations for the Missouri State Medical Association. “A PDMP is an important part of delivering clinically sound treatment to patients suffering from addiction and opioid use disorder.”
Passage of the legislation was applauded by groups that have championed a statewide PDMP for years. Daniel Mehan, president of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce said, “This statewide PDMP will serve as a critical tool physicians and pharmacists need to identify patients who pill shop. This will not only help prevent deaths and address the trends of addiction in our state, it will also help lower costs associated with prescription drug abuse for employers.”
For more information about Sen. Luetkemeyer, visit senate.mo.gov/mem34.