Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes a prescription drug monitoring program.

Highlights:

• Requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to establish a “controlled substances dispensation monitoring program” that will monitor the prescribing and dispensing of all schedule II, III, and IV controlled substances as described by the Federal Controlled Substances Act (Sec. A).

• Requires the dispensation information submitted to the department to be considered confidential and not subject to public disclosure, including private information of a patient (Sec. A).

• Requires the department to provide dispensation information to law enforcement officials for the purpose of investigation if there is reasonable cause to believe a violation of law or a breach of professional standards may have occurred (Sec. A).

• Authorizes the department to provide dispensation data to certain entities, including, but not limited to the following (Sec. A):
• An individual who is authorized to prescribe or dispense controlled substances;
• An individual who requests his or her own dispensation monitoring information;
• An individual working on behalf of the department for administrative purposes;
• A judge or judicial authority under a court order or subpoena;
• Any state board regulating the prescription and dispensation of controlled substances; and
• The Family Support Division within the Department of Social Services.

• Exempts pharmacists and prescribers from being held liable for damages to any individual in any civil action for injury, death or loss to person or property on the basis that the pharmacist or prescriber did not seek or obtain information from the database (Sec. A).

• Classifies the unauthorized disclosure of dispensation information as a class A misdemeanor (Sec. A).

• Establishes a civil penalty of $1,000 for an individual who knowingly submits incorrect information to the department (Sec. A).

Full Bill Text