OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Reauthorization Act

Floor Speech

Date: Sept. 8, 2015
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Drugs

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Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of H.R. 1725, the National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Reauthorization Act of 2015, introduced by my colleagues Mr. Whitfield, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Bucshon, and Mr. Pallone.

Prescription drug abuse is an epidemic in this country, and, sadly, Kentucky is impacted by high rates of prescription drug abuse. Every year, there are 15,000 overdose deaths from prescription pain relievers. For every overdose death, there are an estimated 10 addiction treatment admissions and 32 emergency department visits. One important tool we have as a nation to combat this epidemic is Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs. They prevent doctor shopping and help physicians make more informed clinical decisions.

Reauthorizing NASPER would provide grant support to States to establish Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs. Healthcare providers can access a patient's prescription history through the PDMP to help them identify patients at risk for addiction or those who are abusing prescription drugs. NASPER also helps identify best practices for new PDMPs and ways to improve existing monitoring programs.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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