Proposed legislation intended to reduce painkiller addiction and overdose in Tennessee is drawing criticism from lawmakers and physicians who argue that the bill favors major drug companies, according to a WBIR report.
The legislation would require pharmacists to dispense only tamper-resistant pain pills, which cannot be crushed in order to be snorted or injected. But opponents say there is little data to support the claim that the tamper-resistant policy would reduce overdose deaths and express concern that the pills are sold primarily by large pharmaceutical companies like Endo and Pfizer.
Opponents are also concerned about cost. The bill anticipates it would raise the state's TennCare expenses by $700,000 and overall Medicaid program costs by $1.4 million annually.
State Rep. Joey Hensley, MD, said he opposes the bill because he believes physicians can already write prescriptions for tamper-resistant drugs if they feel a patient might be prone to abuse.
"What this bill's doing is favoring a certain drug company that makes these tamper-resistant drugs and we're cutting out generic companies from making this," Dr. Hensley said. "I just don't know whether this technology is very expensive. I feel like if [a physician] wants a tamper-resistant drug, they can put it on the prescription."
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The legislation would require pharmacists to dispense only tamper-resistant pain pills, which cannot be crushed in order to be snorted or injected. But opponents say there is little data to support the claim that the tamper-resistant policy would reduce overdose deaths and express concern that the pills are sold primarily by large pharmaceutical companies like Endo and Pfizer.
Opponents are also concerned about cost. The bill anticipates it would raise the state's TennCare expenses by $700,000 and overall Medicaid program costs by $1.4 million annually.
State Rep. Joey Hensley, MD, said he opposes the bill because he believes physicians can already write prescriptions for tamper-resistant drugs if they feel a patient might be prone to abuse.
"What this bill's doing is favoring a certain drug company that makes these tamper-resistant drugs and we're cutting out generic companies from making this," Dr. Hensley said. "I just don't know whether this technology is very expensive. I feel like if [a physician] wants a tamper-resistant drug, they can put it on the prescription."
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