Legislation Would Update Prescription Requirements

COLUMBUS—State Representative Ryan Smith (R-Bidwell) announced the passage of House Bill 341 by the Ohio House. This legislation, sponsored by Rep. Smith, is another initiative towards updating the rules on the prescribing of certain drugs.

The bill would prohibit the prescribing of a controlled substance that is a schedule II drug or that contains opioids unless patient information is first reviewed under the State Board of Pharmacy’s Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System (OARRS). The measure would help prevent the overprescribing of such substances. By requiring physicians and other prescribers to review a patient’s prescription history on the OARRS before writing a prescription for certain drugs, they can ensure that their patients have not already been prescribed the substance by another doctor. This reduces the amount of superfluous prescription medication that may be sold or used illegally.

The bill outlines some exceptions to OARRS review:

1) The OARRS report is unavailable;

2) The drug has been prescribed to a hospice or terminally ill patient;

3) The amount of the drug prescribed does not exceed a period of seven days;

4) The drug is prescribed for the treatment of cancer;

5) The drug is prescribed for administration in a hospital or residential care setting

6) The drug is prescribed for pain resulting from a surgical procedure.

Rep. Smith stated, “This bill is common sense legislation. By having the foresight that checking the OARRS system provides, prescribers will be able to help prevent addiction to powerful medicines. They will be able to verify whether or not a patient has received certain types of medication before prescribing more, and perhaps unnecessary, pills. This is another necessary step towards making Ohio drug and addiction free.”

House Bill 341 will go to the Ohio Senate for consideration.