MORE STATES MOVING TO TRACK Rxs...

Kansas is 1 of 15 states currentlywithout a prescription-monitoringprogram, but that will change if legislationrecently introduced in the statesenate becomes law.

S 491, introduced by pharmacistVicki Schmidt (R, Topeka) would authorizethe Board of Pharmacy to createa statewide database into which pharmacists wouldrecord each time a prescription for potentially addictivedrugs is filled. Physicians would have access to the information,so that they could check which prescriptionspatients filled before prescribing another drug. It is hopedthe monitoring system also will help curb the practice of"doctor shopping."

Neighboring Missouri also lacks a program, and prescription-monitoring legislation recently passed out ofcommittee there and is awaiting a hearing before the fullsenate.

Thirty-five states have enacted legislation requiring prescription-monitoring programs, according to the DrugEnforcement Administration's Office of Diversion Control;26 of these programs are currently operating, and 9 are inthe startup phase.