A Kentucky Senate committee approved legislation Tuesday allowing the attorney general control over the state's prescription drug tracking system, but it included revisions to protect physicians from excessive oversight, according to a Lexington Courier-Journal report.
The bill aims to shift control of the state's KASPER prescription drug database from health and family services to the attorney general's office, but physicians have argued that the increased regulation would discourage them from prescribing opioids to patients legitimately in need of medication.
Under the revised version of the bill, which passed the Senate Judiciary Committee now heads to the full Senate, the attorney general's office must establish a separate unit to conduct investigations related to KASPER, but must cap the unit at 20 employees to prevent unduly broad examinations of medical offices. The attorney general also must create a clearinghouse for sharing information with medical licensing boards and law enforcement.
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The bill aims to shift control of the state's KASPER prescription drug database from health and family services to the attorney general's office, but physicians have argued that the increased regulation would discourage them from prescribing opioids to patients legitimately in need of medication.
Under the revised version of the bill, which passed the Senate Judiciary Committee now heads to the full Senate, the attorney general's office must establish a separate unit to conduct investigations related to KASPER, but must cap the unit at 20 employees to prevent unduly broad examinations of medical offices. The attorney general also must create a clearinghouse for sharing information with medical licensing boards and law enforcement.
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