Commission approves drug monitoring program

FILE: Various prescription drugs are seen on the automated pharmacy assembly line at Medco Health Solutions in Willingboro, New Jersey.
FILE: Various prescription drugs are seen on the automated pharmacy assembly line at Medco Health Solutions in Willingboro, New Jersey.

The Cole County Commission has approved an ordinance to allow prescription drug monitoring in the county.

This comes as lawmakers continue to debate a statewide program at the Capitol.

Missouri is the only state in the nation without prescription drug monitoring laws.

A statewide prescription drug monitoring program would allow health care professionals, including pharmacists and dentists, to access information about a patient's history for prescription narcotics.

Although there are no Cole County drug providers outside Jefferson City limits at this time, city leaders have said they would follow the county if the commission approved the measure, Cole County Health Department Director Kristi Campbell said, as the county has oversight over the local health department.

Drug monitoring would help combat the ongoing problem of narcotics abuse, according to the county ordinance.

"Prescription drug overdoses are a nationwide epidemic," Campbell said.

In the absence of a statewide program, various counties and cities are coming together to institute their own programs.

"Pharmacies will have access to a database, and St. Louis County has a technical advisory board that has set up triggers so that if things look out of the ordinary, it will allow them to contact law enforcement when appropriate or the Board of Healing Arts - whichever entity is deemed appropriate," Campbell said. "St. Louis County invited us to join their effort."

The Healing Arts board licenses doctors in the state.

About eight other government bodies in the state have joined this effort, Campbell said.

It will cost the county $2,600 to start, and $3,300 for every subsequent year to pay for the subscription to access the database.

"My concern was, if we pass it, why would the state worry about passing it?" Eastern District Commissioner Jeff Hoelscher said. "In talking with our lawmakers, they said it would make a difference in trying to get the statewide program approved."

Pharmacies do not have to participate, and there is no penalty against them if they don't. However, representatives from all pharmacies in Jefferson City have told Campbell they want to participate, she said.

"I don't think this will create a lot of extra work for the pharmacies," Presiding Commissioner Sam Bushman said.

Stacey Welling, president of Whaley's Pharmacy, told the commission: "I think it mirrors with what we're already doing in regards to monitoring for pseudoephedrine abuse."