Nesbit Unveils Commonsense Measure to Help with Opioid Abuse Crisis
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| Rep. Tedd Nesbit (R-Mercer/Butler) today introduced legislation at a Capitol press conference that would require that prescriptions for opioids be transmitted electronically, rather than by hand. This is one way, he said, to help keep opioids from being stolen or prescriptions filled fraudulently. |
HARRISBURG – In an effort to prevent opioids from falling into the wrong hands, Rep. Tedd Nesbit (R-Mercer/Butler) today introduced legislation that would require that prescriptions for opioids be transmitted electronically, rather than by hand.
“One of the best ways to ensure that prescriptions for opioids are tightly controlled is through electronic means,” Nesbit said. “Under my proposal, only a prescriber can send the script electronically – as they do for so many other medications – and it is safely received by a pharmacy. This change in practice is simple, effective and reasonable.”
Under Nesbit’s legislation,
House Bill 353, which was unveiled at a Capitol press conference on Monday, prescriptions for opioids would be required to be transmitted electronically to a pharmacy, similar to most other medications. This would dramatically update a state law from the 1990s that required opioids prescriptions to be written out by hand – then the most secure means.
“Opioid overdoses have reached such a crisis level that they have now overtaken car crashes as the leading cause of accidental death,” Nesbit added. “Many times these prescriptions are falling into the wrong hands – stolen prescription pads or even lost or stolen prescriptions – all because state law mandates that prescriptions for opioids be written out by hand. At one time, that was the most secure way, but not anymore.”
Another benefits of e-prescribing is that the tracking of the prescription can go directly to the prescription drug monitoring database, implemented last year, to ensure that only those who need these prescriptions access them. This may also lead to greater convenience at the pharmacy of the patient’s choice by reducing wait times.
To view Nesbit’s remarks from the press conference, click here.
Nesbit also noted that during the past session, the General Assembly has taken a number of important steps to help ease this crisis, such as limiting opioids prescriptions from emergency rooms and for minors, properly disposing of unused medications, mandating continuing education for health care professionals, and developing a safe prescribing curriculum in medical schools.
Joining Nesbit at the press conference were Sen. Rich Alloway (R-Adams/Cumberland/Franklin/York), who is sponsoring the companion legislation in the state Senate; and members of the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society, which is supportive of the measure.
“This legislation is a relatively simple solution to at least reduce the diversion of controlled substances into the wrong hands,” Nesbit added. “Any efforts we can take to keep opioids and prescriptions for them from reaching those who abuse them is a step in the right direction and will save lives.”
The measure is expected to be formally assigned to a House standing committee in the coming days.
Representative Tedd Nesbit
8th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jennifer Keaton
(717) 705-2094
jkeaton@pahousegop.com
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