Steve, a question for you

[jimdickie]

Was there any legislature or laws passed in the last 10 years or so that enpowered licensed pharmacists to take a more authoriatative role in the Dr/Patient relationship ? Specifically, I've had pharamacists for some reason take me as a "frequent flyer" and actually call around town to ensure I wasn't using mutiple pharmacies. I never did, so there was never an issue. what has changed ?

Thank you,

Jim

[Pharmacist.steve]

@Jim... around 38 states have implemented Prescription Monitoring Programs (PMP) that pharmacies must send in data to this state level database on all controlled substances filled. I am not convinced that these databases are not full of data attached to fake ID's provided to the pharmacy. Most/many of healthcare professionals are extremely paranoid of the DEA... and they are obsessed on making sure that all controlled substances that they fill are for legit patients. Some chains... will not allow the pharmacy dept to have access to the internet... what you must have to get a report from the PMP on a particular's patient's drug purchases. NJ just stated that they are going to SUSPEND MD & RPH's license for those they SUSPECT of providing drugs to diverters/addicts.. and Ohio just passed a law that the bureaucrats can come after a MD/RPH AFTER THE FACT .. if someone gets harmed by controlled substances they prescribed or filled. It is my opinion that those supposedly fighting the war on drugs.. want to keep the drugs flowing to the street... and they are the "low hanging fruit" on the "war on drug tree" are mostly non-violent offenders... if they have to move up that tree... those tend to be more violent as you move up the tree.

I just wrote a blog post last week The War On Drugs - fits Einstein's definition of Insanity.... http://healthblog.steveariens.com/?p=495.
There is so much crap going on... CVS .. just sent a unsigned letters to a unknown number of doctors in Florida.. that CVS would no longer fill any controlled substances written by them... The DEA just yanked the DEA license of two CVS stores in Sanford FL along with a Cardinal ********* distribution center this past Friday. I don't see all this craziness changing direction any time soon.