Today’s local news reported the arrest of a doctor from our small town for allegedly illegal prescribing controlled substances. The physician, by all accounts a well-liked and generally respected member of the community, was charged with illegally prescribing “Demerol, Percocet, Valium and Fentanyl for a patient in a frequency that exceeds his own directions for use.”
I don’t know the person in question, although several neighbors do. I do know this is an all-too-common news story; a cursory search finds similar reports from Ohio, Los Angeles, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and upstate New York where a thirteen year old boy recently died of a prescription drug overdose.
The problem has attracted the attention of Congress, where Senator Chuck Schumer (D NY) recently introduced legislation to monitor, track, and attack illegal trafficking in prescription drugs.
What can be done?
First, a national Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, like the one advanced by Sen Schumer, would be a big step in the right direction. While there are about 33 state-based PDMPs in place today, they are pretty ineffectual. Many are voluntary; they don’t track interstate transactions; many don’t cover all controlled substances, and most are underfunded.
Second, states need to get serious about their PDMPs. The poster child for irresponsible behavior is that model of personal rectitude, Gov Rick Scott of Florida, who’s been trying to shut down Florida’s PDMP before it even gets started. (word is the pressure on Scott may finally be having an affect, as Scott may be changing his position, although one can never tell what he actually will do.)
Third, payers must use their data mining capabilities to ensure they aren’t victimized by this practice; identify high prescribers, determine if that activity is legitimate or not, and engage with law enforcement when red flags appear.
Apr
13
This tracking system has good intentions, but it looks like the logistics need to be more carefully planned and worked out before the program is put into place.