A local lawmaker’s bill to address a problem fueling the ongoing opioid abuse crisis has been approved by the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives.
“This bill basically means that the doctors, when prescribing opioid drugs, have to do so electronically rather than using a paper prescription,” Rep. Tedd Nesbit says. “Currently, the state requires that all those drugs be prescribed on a paper form and this just mandates that they be prescribed electronically instead.”
Rep. Nesbit, who represents parts of Mercer and Butler counties, is referring to House Bill 353, which would require electronic prescriptions for powerful opioid medications to allow for better oversight as well as less fraud and theft.
Nesbit maintains his bill would also provide greater convenience for patients who are already used to other medications prescribed electronically. This new way of opioid prescribing will allow for a more accurate prescription drug monitoring database.
“I think that we all realize that we have a problem with opioids and these are some of the simple, common sense things that we can do to help fight that battle,” he said.
Nesbit’s bill will next move on to the state Senate for review.
