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House amends controlled-substance reporting to include overdoses and convictions
Summary
Lawmakers amended and passed HB 114 to add overdose hospital admissions and certain convictions to the state’s controlled-substance database so future prescribers can see an overdose history; sponsor said the change aims to improve prescriber decision-making amid high prescription-overdose rates, and the bill passed 69–0.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House on Monday amended and approved HB 114 to expand the controlled-substance database’s reporting so clinicians can see a patient’s history of overdose admissions or certain convictions when making prescribing decisions.
Sponsor Representative Ward described the bill as a small but important step in addressing a large problem: “In Utah, we are eighth highest in the nation in our number of prescription overdose deaths from opioids,” Ward said on the House floor, noting the state’s overdose deaths rose from about 60 per year to about 250 per year over 15 years. Ward told colleagues the bill requires flagging overdose admissions and certain controlled-substance convictions in the database so subsequent prescribers will have timely, relevant information.
Representatives who spoke in support said Utah has one of the nation’s most effective prescription-monitoring databases and recent upgrades made the system near real-time. Supporters emphasized ongoing collaboration with doctors, pharmacists and other stakeholders and said the change aims to help clinicians make safer prescribing choices.
The House passed the measure as amended, 69–0. The bill will be transmitted to the Senate.
Votes: House Bill 114, as amended, passed 69 yes, 0 no.
Source: Floor remarks and sponsor explanation on the House third-reading calendar.
