A new law requires Oklahoma doctors to check the prescription drug database prior to prescribing or refilling prescriptions for certain addictive drugs. Governor Fallin signed the bill on March 31st, and it will go into effect on the 1st of November, 2015.
A Need for a New Protocol
Governor Fallin signed HB 1948 into law with the goal of reducing doctor-shopping in Oklahoma. “Doctor shopping “is the term used to describe the activity of a drug seeker going to multiple doctors in order to get narcotics.
The newly-signed-law also seeks to reduce reliance on dangerous narcotics for treating pain, and to reduce their inappropriate use.
Fallin cited Oklahoma’s prescription drug-caused death rate to be higher than deaths from car wrecks. The Oklahoma State Department of Health reports that the drug overdose rate in Oklahoma increased by almost 400 percent (1999-2013).
Oklahoma currently ranks sixth in the United States for unintentional drug overdoses
The prescription drug database already exists in Oklahoma, but under existing law, doctors participate on a voluntary basis–excepting the drug Methadone. The new bill would require doctors to access the prescription drug database prior to prescribing specific addictive drugs, or before refilling prescriptions.
The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (OBNDD) operates the database. It contains real-time information on a patient prescriptions; and if prescriptions have been obtained from another doctor by a patient.
The Oklahoma State Medical Association (OSMA) opposed similar protocol proposal in recent years, citing concerns over placing an unfunded mandate on healthcare providers. This year, the association and legislators worked together on a compromise measure, and passage of the bill was ultimately endorsed.
According to the president of the OSMA, Dr. Todd Brockman, the association recognized the seriousness of the problem and wanted to be a part of the solution.
The bill was written by State Rep. Doug Cox, who is also a Grove, Oklahoma emergency room physician. According to Cox, the drug monitoring database already includes doctors in Kansas and Arkansas; and Oklahoma officials are working to include physicians in Missouri.
Overprescribing Highly Addictive Drugs
Nonmedical use of prescription drugs is a driving factor in the epidemic of prescription drug abuse and overdose deaths. Those without legitimate prescriptions for the drugs are likely to get them from those who do have a prescription—or by doctor shopping. .
The prescription drug database can provide timely and accurate patient prescription histories, alerting prescribers of patient doctor shopping. Some see it as a means to help coordinate patient care, and a tool for substance abuse treatment referral. The database information can be also be used as a tool to prevent potentially dangerous drug combinations or interactions.
Real-time reporting by Oklahoma pharmacists when filling prescriptions for controlled substances provides physicians with real-time database information.
Results from the newly-signed Oklahoma law requiring physicians to access the database may show some very real-time beneficial results in the efforts to curtail doctor shopping, “pill mill” overprescribing, and prescription drug diversion.
The Future
The new law is seen by many as an important tool in the fight against prescription drug abuse in Oklahoma.
Senator A.J. Griffin, who authored HB 1948 with Representative Doug Cox, said the writing and passing of laws to help reverse the epidemic of prescription drug abuse in Oklahoma has been one of her top priorities. She views the new law as an important tool in fighting Oklahoma prescription drug abuse.
It will definitely take a concerted effort by concerned Oklahomans to bring the prescription drug abuse epidemic under control—and a thing of the past.
