ARLINGTON, Va. — NACDS Tuesday praised Kansas’ enactment of an electronic prescribing bill (HB 2119) that would require all prescriptions for controlled substances in Schedules II-V that contain an opiate to be submitted electronically, which will help in the fight against opioid abuse. Enacted in April, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) held a ceremonial bill signing on June 21. The law becomes effective July 1, 2021.

NACDS recognized the bipartisan leadership of Kansas State Legislature members Rep. Brenda Landwehr (R), Rep. John Eplee (R), Rep. John Barker (R), Rep. Sean Tarwater (R), Rep. Monica Murnan (D), Sen. Gene Suellentrop (R), Sen. Barbara Bollier (D) and Sen. Molly Baumgardner (R). NACDS also thanked the Kansas Medical Association, the Kansas Pharmacists Association and the Kansas Association of Chain Drug Stores for the negotiations and hard work that went into passing this legislation designed to address and prevent opioid abuse.

This approach to opioid-abuse prevention has popular and nonpartisan support in the state. A January 2019 survey, conducted by Morning Consult and commissioned by NACDS, found that 62% of Kansas registered voters support rules that all prescriptions must be handled electronically, rather than by paper or fax, to reduce the likelihood of fraud and abuse.

NACDS president and chief executive officer Steven Anderson said: “By enacting this legislation, Kansas has taken further action to help prevent opioid abuse and to help protect patients, families and communities. This is an important legislative accomplishment for Kansas, and for the continued momentum across the nation in favor of e-prescribing as part of the opioid-abuse solution.”

This legislation is consistent with NACDS’ policy recommendations for opioid abuse prevention. In addition to e-prescribing, NACDS’ recommendations relate to drug disposal, supply limits for a patient’s first prescription to treat temporary pain, prescription drug monitoring plans, health plan design, and pain management.

NACDS’ recommendations parallel consistent and ongoing pharmacy strategies to prevent opioid abuse, including compliance programs; drug disposal; patient education; security initiatives; fostering naloxone access; stopping illegal online drug-sellers and rogue clinics; and more.

Regarding e-prescribing, 23 states have enacted an NACDS-backed law. At the federal level, President Trump in 2018 signed into law federal legislation—the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act—which requires electronic prescribing for Schedule II through V controlled substances prescriptions covered under Medicare Part D.

NACDS has been instrumental in advancing the use of electronic prescribing as a safeguard and was on the leading edge of working with the Drug Enforcement Administration to allow electronic prescribing of controlled substances. Until 2010, it was not allowed.