House Passes Drug Monitoring Bill, Authorizes Grants for State Programs

[gulfcoastliberal]

On October 5, the House of Representatives passed, by voice vote, H.R. 3015, the National All Schedules Prescription Drug Reporting Act (NASPER), sponsored by Representatives Charles Norwood (R-GA) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ). If enacted into law, the bill would authorize federal grants totaling $95 million through FY2010 to states agreeing to establish and implement a program for monitoring of Schedule II, III and IV controlled substances.

Action by the Senate in the 108th Congress authorizing such grants is unlikely, but passage of H.R. 3015 by the House sets the stage for legislation being sent to the president next year.

H.R. 3015 is an anti-drug abuse measure worked out in the Energy and Commerce Committee as a compromise between a bill that would have established a federal monitoring program and one that would merely support state monitoring programs. Although 21 states currently maintain drug monitoring programs, the programs differ significantly in their reach and effectiveness, and no method currently exists for states to share monitoring information.

snip

Reports to the monitoring agency must include the Drug Enforcement Administration number of the dispenser and prescriber of the drug, the name and address of the patient, the name and quantity of the drug dispensed and other information related to the prescription. Upon receipt of a report showing prescribing by a practitioner or for a patient located in another state operating a federally supported monitoring program, the receiving state agency must automatically send the report to the other state.

link: http://www.asahq.org/Newsletters/2004/11_04/washReport11_04.html

This is absolutely ridiculous. Here the "small govt" rethugs go again; at the end of the article they mention they want to study implementing a "real-time" tracking program - presumably so the second you get a script filled they can dispatch the paddy wagon to your residence immediately. Just another outrage, so much for HIPAA "patient privacy" and just forget that 4th amendment.

[jimshoes]

1. Hey Big Brother

how do you justify poking your fucking nose into every aspect of our private lives. Make sure you thank all the republicans you meet for this bit of snoopery.

[Sugarbleus]

2. Well said by both of you!!

I am SICK TO DEATH of this farce called "War on Drugs"!!. I've been posting over at Drug Policy Alliance: http://www.drugpolicy.org

Not a lot of traffic there but I've had some stimulating and interesting conversations along with current news regarding what our beloved country is doing to us behind drug laws/policy--both legal and illegal. If any of ya know another site/org I can get involved in, let me know.

With all the crap going on under this current government, I get the distinct sensation that those of us in the middle and underclasses are being squeezed right out of existence!

*Throw everyone in jail for using drugs--legal patients and doctors included.

*Throw low income households out into the street because Chimp can't spend anymore on subsidies.

*Kill Social Security so aging or disabled folks can go broke, starve get sick and die off.

*Send more and more jobs overseas so more and more citizens can't find decent work.

*Rule against OVERTIME PAY.

*Throw single mothers off Welfare and let them scramble for subsistance.

*Cut funding for higher Education so few folks can rise above it all.

*Cut medicaid for low or zero income sick people.

*Buy up the media so we only get to see what they want us to see.

*Send out the goons to harrass people for "suspicious" activity.

*Jack the price of heating fuel and other fuels so high that no one can afford it anymore.

*Make buying homes and taking out loans for such a stock market commodity so only the well heeled can afford to own property.

:crazy:

TAKE BACK AMERICA NOW!

[Name removed]

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