Lawmakers approve database to track Missourians' prescriptions

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The state would track the types and amounts of drugs prescribed in Missouri through separate bills given first-round approval Wednesday.

The House and Senate approved their own versions of legislation cutting down on doctor-shopping by making it easier to track prescriptions for controlled substances. Both versions require pharmacists to keep an electronic log of purchases of certain cold medicines that contain pseudoephedrine. That's a key ingredient used in making methamphetamine.

Missouri regularly leads the nation in annual meth lab busts.

The Senate approved its measure with minimal debate, but debate in the House stretched over two days.

Under the bills, those who fill prescriptions would need to record and submit a variety of data, including patient's name, address and birth date along with the type of drug, amount and whether it's a refill or a new prescription.

House and Senate sponsors said the information would help with an investigation when someone is suspected of going to various doctors seeking controlled substances.

But House critics added an amendment that would allow data from the registry to be accessed only during on-site inspections and after complaints. That was prompted by concerns about privacy and a "Big Brother" government.

Democratic Rep. Jeff Roorda, a former police officer from Barnhart, said those worries are overblown. He said law enforcement's need to track who is getting what prescriptions justified the database.

Rep. Rob Schaaf said even with that protection, recording private medical data could put Missourians at risk for having sensitive and potentially embarrassing information released and abused.

"There is no data that is truly secure, things get leaked," said Schaaf, R-St. Joseph. "Your data that is going to be on this database is as secure as we can make it, but you've got to ask yourself a question: Is the security of your data worth the amount of benefit that we get from this?"