Posted: | December 18, 2012 03:20 PM |
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From: | Representative Gene DiGirolamo |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Former HB 1651 Prescription Drug Monitoring Program |
I plan to re-introduce the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) legislation - last session's HB1651. Last year, the Human Services Committee held two very informative public hearings on this legislation and heard from many witnesses including physicians and other health care professionals, law enforcement, addiction treatment experts, pharmacies and families who have lost loved ones to prescription drug overdoses. The need for this legislation came through loud and clear. The prescription drug problem has been described by the Office of Drug Control Policy as "our country's fastest growing drug problem". According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2007, there were four times as many prescription drug overdose deaths as heroin overdoses deaths and twice as many as cocaine overdose deaths. We need to get this important, life-saving tool in place. Prescription monitoring programs serve multiple functions - law enforcement, prevention and intervention. They improve patient care and prescribing practices, help uncover drug diversion, identify "doctor shopping" and will provide training of health care professionals in prevention, identification of drug problems and referral when appropriate. Please join me by co-sponsoring this important legislation. Please contact Pamela Huss in my office at phuss@pahousegop.com. |
Introduced as HB317