STATEHOUSE (March 8, 2010) - Legislation focusing on combating prescription drug abuse in Indiana is now awaiting Gov. Mitch Daniels’ signature after Senate lawmakers voted 38-7 today to concur with House language added to Senate Enrolled Act 356.

“According to recent studies, 383,000 Hoosiers abuse prescription drugs each year,” Delph said. “I believe we must do a better job at identifying problem prescribers and ‘doctor shopper’ patients in an effort to reduce prescription drug abuse in our state.”

SEA 356 expands the data collected by the Indiana’s prescription monitoring program (INSPECT) to include the recipient’s method of payment for a controlled substance. The measure also allows INSPECT to release information on prescribers and patients to the state’s toxicologist, Medicaid fraud investigators and substance abuse assistance programs.

Delph said his legislation requires health care provider boards to establish guidelines for prescribing and dispensing of prescriptions and would direct the boards to report to law enforcement or the attorney general when a practitioner deviates from the established guidelines. The bill also includes a civil immunity to prescribers and dispensers who pass along a good faith tip to law enforcement on suspected prescription drug abuse.

Delph’s legislation also makes updates to the state’s professional licensing code in several ways:

• Allowing criminal history check for employees of home health agencies to be provided by a private agency;
• Establishing a uniform procedure to allow a board of a regulated occupation to issue a cease and desist order to an unlicensed person who is engaging in an activity that requires a license;
• Merging and changes the membership of the barber and cosmetology boards;
• Establishing a mental health associate license;
• Requiring the Health Finance Commission to study the issue of paramedic licensure;
• Establishing  a water well driller and water well pump license;
• Repealing law requiring certification of environmental health specialists and licensure of hypnotists;
• Eliminating the Controlled Substance Advisory Committee and transferring responsibilities to the Indiana Board of Pharmacy; and
• Providing automatic revocation of controlled substances permit if physicians’ license is revoked.