Parson Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Becomes Law

Gov. Mike Parson brought Missouri in line with the rest of the states today when he signed a bill into law establishing a statewide Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP).

“Establishing a statewide prescription drug monitoring program has been a top priority for my administration, and I want to thank Senator Holly Rehder and Representative Travis Smith for working to get this landmark legislation across the finish line,” Governor Parson said. “SB 63 will help provide necessary information to health care professionals and empower them to make decisions that better serve their patients and assist in fighting the opioid epidemic in Missouri.”

SB 63 establishes the Joint Oversight Task Force of Prescription Drug Monitoring, responsible for collecting and maintaining the prescription and dispensation of prescribed controlled substances to patients within the state.

This legislation will assist health care professionals in better monitoring the dispensation of opioids and other prescribed controlled substances to their patients. Similar statewide prescription drug monitoring programs have been adopted in every other state in the country, as well as the District of Columbia and Guam, in an effort to address the opioid epidemic occurring across the United States.

Patient information is protected health information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and will continue to be maintained as such in accordance with the federal law under SB 63. SB 63 further states that patient information is considered a closed record under state law and will not be provided to law enforcement agencies, prosecutorial officials, or regulatory bodies for purposes not allowed under HIPAA.

SB 63 also extends the expiration date of the RX Cares for Missouri Program to August 28, 2026, and also restricts the program from being used by agencies that can prevent Missourians from owning firearms or to establish probable cause for a criminal investigation.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story