Health News
A controversial bill aimed at curbing prescription drug abuse, which was considered by many as the hallmark of the 2012 General Assembly, is creating tension as its implementation draws nearer. It takes effect July 20.
House Bill 1 puts more restrictions on pain clinics to prevent so-called pill mills from setting up shop in the state. It also requires doctors who prescribe controlled substances to use the state's drug-monitoring system known as KASPER. It further requires licensing boards to set up standards to increase oversight and spell out how doctors should be using KASPER. "But many of the details remain uncertain ? including how frequently doctors must run searches of patients ? and several areas are poised to drive a wedge between the medical industry and lawmakers in the coming months," reports Mike Wynn for The Courier-Journal.
The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure has written a draft proposal with dozens of new rules that have prompted confusion and anger among physicians. House Speaker Greg Stumbo, the bill's sponsor, has questioned the move. "What it appears to me they are doing is almost making it over burdensome to practitioners, and one might argue that is an attempt to make the entire system fail," he said.
Given the anticipated impasse, some expect Gov. Steve Beshear "to sign emergency regulations that will achieve at least some of the goals of HB 1, but those would expire within six months and wouldn't be subject to a prior review process," Wynn reports. (Read more)
- Medical Licensure Board Changing Rules To Focus More On Painkillers; Fewer Urine Tests For Patients, Fewer Reports For Doctors
Patients in long-term treatment with controlled substances won't have to have their urine tested for drugs unless they are on painkillers, and doctors will have wide discretion over how often to do the tests, under new rules being drafted by the Kentucky...
- Doctor Complaints About Bill Aimed At Reducing Prescription Drug Abuse Largely Based On Misconceptions, Health Officials Say
State health officials say doctors' complaints about House Bill 1, which cracks down on pill mills and doctors who supply the illegal prescription pill trade, result from misunderstandings and misconceptions about the law's language...
- Pill-mill Bill Passes; Attorney General Won't Get Drug-monitoring System But Narcotic-prescribing Doctors Will Have To Use It
House Speaker Greg Stumbo, center, walks with House budget committee chair Rick Rand and House Majority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins. (Courier-Journal photo).Legislators have sent Gov. Steve Beshear a bill to curb prescription drug abuse and crack down on...
- In Bipartisan Way, Political Leaders Push Passage Of 'pill Mill' Bill
A bipartisan group of political leaders issued a call today "to pass a bill that will help the state battle one of its most significant threats ? prescription drug abuse," a press release from Gov. Steve Beshear's office said. Beshear, Attorney General...
- Licensing Board Needs To Step Up Its Game Against Pain-pill Docs, Stumbo Says
If the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure doesn't increase its oversight on doctors who prescribe excessive amounts of pain pills, House Speaker Greg Stumbo said Tuesday he'll find an agency that will. "If the medical licensure board refuses...
Health News
Tensions mounting as implementation of prescription drug bill nears on July 20
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| House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, sponsored the prescription drug bill. (Courier-Journal photo) |
House Bill 1 puts more restrictions on pain clinics to prevent so-called pill mills from setting up shop in the state. It also requires doctors who prescribe controlled substances to use the state's drug-monitoring system known as KASPER. It further requires licensing boards to set up standards to increase oversight and spell out how doctors should be using KASPER. "But many of the details remain uncertain ? including how frequently doctors must run searches of patients ? and several areas are poised to drive a wedge between the medical industry and lawmakers in the coming months," reports Mike Wynn for The Courier-Journal.
The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure has written a draft proposal with dozens of new rules that have prompted confusion and anger among physicians. House Speaker Greg Stumbo, the bill's sponsor, has questioned the move. "What it appears to me they are doing is almost making it over burdensome to practitioners, and one might argue that is an attempt to make the entire system fail," he said.
Given the anticipated impasse, some expect Gov. Steve Beshear "to sign emergency regulations that will achieve at least some of the goals of HB 1, but those would expire within six months and wouldn't be subject to a prior review process," Wynn reports. (Read more)
- Medical Licensure Board Changing Rules To Focus More On Painkillers; Fewer Urine Tests For Patients, Fewer Reports For Doctors
Patients in long-term treatment with controlled substances won't have to have their urine tested for drugs unless they are on painkillers, and doctors will have wide discretion over how often to do the tests, under new rules being drafted by the Kentucky...
- Doctor Complaints About Bill Aimed At Reducing Prescription Drug Abuse Largely Based On Misconceptions, Health Officials Say
State health officials say doctors' complaints about House Bill 1, which cracks down on pill mills and doctors who supply the illegal prescription pill trade, result from misunderstandings and misconceptions about the law's language...
- Pill-mill Bill Passes; Attorney General Won't Get Drug-monitoring System But Narcotic-prescribing Doctors Will Have To Use It
House Speaker Greg Stumbo, center, walks with House budget committee chair Rick Rand and House Majority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins. (Courier-Journal photo).Legislators have sent Gov. Steve Beshear a bill to curb prescription drug abuse and crack down on...
- In Bipartisan Way, Political Leaders Push Passage Of 'pill Mill' Bill
A bipartisan group of political leaders issued a call today "to pass a bill that will help the state battle one of its most significant threats ? prescription drug abuse," a press release from Gov. Steve Beshear's office said. Beshear, Attorney General...
- Licensing Board Needs To Step Up Its Game Against Pain-pill Docs, Stumbo Says
If the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure doesn't increase its oversight on doctors who prescribe excessive amounts of pain pills, House Speaker Greg Stumbo said Tuesday he'll find an agency that will. "If the medical licensure board refuses...