What's happening
This bill requires the Department of Health to analyze prescription monitoring data to flag inappropriate controlled substance prescribing and report findings as needed.
Why it matters
Enhances oversight of prescription drug practices. By requiring the Department of Health to actively analyze monitoring data for inappropriate prescribing of controlled substances, the bill aims to catch problematic prescribing patterns sooner, potentially helping to curb opioid abuse and other prescription drug crises.
Facilitates accountability and professional standards. The bill directs the Department to flag possible violations of law or breaches of medical standards, which may lead to investigations or disciplinary actions against prescribers who put patients at risk.
Improves data transparency and tracking. By mandating detailed record-keeping of what information is shared and with whom, the bill promotes accountability within agencies that receive reports and ensures there’s a clear audit trail for sensitive health data.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Track Prescription Data Better
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to health
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.171
- Referred to health
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to health
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
Show 5 earlier actions
- Ordered to third reading cal.1565
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Print number 5653a
- Amend (t) and recommit to health
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Track Prescription Data Misuse
In Assembly Committee · Health · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5653--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 10, 2019
Introduced by Sen. METZGER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to department analysis of the prescription monitoring program registry
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 7 of section 3343-a of the public health law, as added by section 2 of part A of chapter 447 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
7. Department analysis of data. The department shall periodically analyze data contained in the prescription monitoring program registry to identify information that indicates that a violation of law or breach of professional standards may have occurred, including the inappropriate prescribing of controlled substances and, as warranted, provide any relevant information to appropriate entities as permitted under section thirty-three hundred seventy-one of this article. The department shall keep a record of the information provided, including, but not limited to, the specific information provided and the agency to which such information was provided, including the name and title of the person to whom such information was provided and an attestation from such person that he or she has authority to receive such information.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11627-02-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to department analysis of the prescription monitoring program registry
Purpose
The purpose of this legislation is to identify over-prescribing of opioids and to ensure that those individuals engaging in criminal activ- ity are referred to the appropriate authority.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 - Amends section 3343-a of the public health law to require the department to identify and examine potential inappropriate prescrib- ing.
Section 2 - Effective Date - Immediately.
Justification
Every community across New York has been affected by the opioid epidem- ic. In 2015, 2,158 New Yorkers died as a result of opioid addiction. While, the number of opioid prescriptions continue to decline, recent headlines highlight the need for prosecution of pill mills. "Pill mill" is a term which refers to doctors, clinics, or other prescribers that inappropriately and illegally prescribe opioids. Recent prosecutions of pill mills have been conducted by federal authorities. New York's prescription monitoring program tracks all opioid prescriptions in the state. New York should not rely on federal authorities to take down pill mills. The Department of Health has the information to track and analyze opioid prescriptions and should actively use this information to elimi- nate pill mills and the threat they pose to New Yorkers.
Prior legislative history
None
Fiscal implications
To be determined
Effective date
immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.