House Bill 455

Chair's Name: David Ralston

Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil

House Sponsor: Ron Stephens

The Georgia Prescription Monitoring Program Act establishes a program for monitoring prescribed and dispensed Schedule II, III, or IV controlled substances. The Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency would be authorized to monitor prescriptions and promulgate rules and regulations in compliance with the proposed law. Dispensers of Schedule II, III, or IV drugs will be required to submit specific information regarding when the prescription was filled, the quantity dispensed and the amount dispenses as well as the patient’s social security number, name, address, and date of birth, and other information about the drug, the prescriber and the patient. The required information must be submitted electronically. Those dispensers who cannot submit the information electronically may apply for a waiver to send the information via paper. The information must be submitted at least weekly. The information will be kept confidential except very limited circumstances. The Agency would also be allowed to provide data for statistical research and other purposes after removing any identifying information about individual patients. A five member advisory committee will consult with the board and agency on matters regarding the monitoring program.

Dispensers who knowingly fail to submit information, any person who knowingly discloses information or uses the information in violation of the Act will be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished by up to 12 months in prison and/or a $1000 fine or both.

This committee substitute comes to the House Floor under the Open Rule.

Chairman Ralston’s opinion of this legislation:

This legislation provides for the establishment of a program for the monitoring of prescribing and dispensing Schedule II, III, or IV controlled substances by the Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency. This program will improve the State’s ability to identify and stop diversion of prescription drugs in an efficient and cost effective manner that will not impede the appropriate medical utilization of licit controlled substances or other licit drugs with potential for abuse.