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Senate advances bill to create statewide prescription database amid privacy and cost concerns
Summary
Senate debate over SB42 centered on a proposed statewide controlled-substance prescription database to curb 'doctor shopping' and aid law enforcement; sponsors highlighted benefits for identifying abuse and linking pharmacies, while opponents warned of privacy risks and questioned the fiscal note. The chamber recorded 17 ayes, 6 nays, 6 absent on the motion to read SB42 for a third time.
Senator Robert Montgomery moved the Senate to advance Senate Bill 42, which would create an electronic controlled-substance prescription database to track narcotics prescriptions across pharmacies and prescribers. Montgomery said the system is intended to detect “doctor shopping” and “pharmacy shopping” and to help law enforcement and treatment referrals.
“Sixty percent of the drug abuse in the state of Utah is as a result of prescription, abuse,” Montgomery told colleagues while outlining the bill’s definitions, advisory board membership and data elements to be collected, including prescriber name, prescription and fill dates and quantities. He…
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