Rx abuse monitoring law
Executive Summary
President Bush signs the "National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act" into law Aug. 11. The law, which passed the House July 27 and the Senate July 29, authorizes $60 mil. over fiscal years 2006-2010 for states to create or augment monitoring systems to track prescriptions of Schedule II-IV drugs across state lines (1"The Pink Sheet" Aug. 8, 2005, p. 27). The monitoring programs will require healthcare providers to report the dispensation of controlled substances within a week. Following a public comment period, the Secretary of HHS will establish minimum requirements, including certain privacy provisions, that states must meet in order to be eligible for grants under the law...