Senate Bill 221
INSPECT program allows a dispenser of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or a controlled substance to transmit certain information to the INSPECT program by any electronic method that meets specifications prescribed by the state board of pharmacy (board).
It provides that, to the extent considered appropriate by the board, the INSPECT data base must be interoperable with other similar registries operated by federal and state governments. It requires the following practitioners to obtain information about a patient from the data base before prescribing an opioid or benzodiazepine to the patient: (1) A practitioner who has had the information from the data base integrated into the patient’s electronic health records. (2) Beginning January 1, 2019, a practitioner who provides services to the patient in the emergency department of a hospital or a pain management clinic. (3) Beginning January 1, 2020, a practitioner who provides services to the patient in a hospital. (4) Beginning January 1, 2021, all practitioners. It also provides that a practitioner is not required to obtain information about a patient who is subject to a pain management contract from the INSPECT data base more than once every 90 days and removes lapsed provisions. INSPECT provides that beginning January 1, 2019, a practitioner who is permitted to distribute, dispense, prescribe, conduct research with respect to, or administer ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or a controlled substance in the course of the practitioner’s professional practice or research must be certified to receive information from the INSPECT program. It allows a practitioner to request a waiver from the requirement of checking the data base before prescribing an opioid or benzodiazepine if the practitioner does not have access to the Internet at the practitioner’s place of business. INSPECT requires the Indiana state board of pharmacy to: (1) establish a process for a practitioner to request a waiver; (2) determine whether to grant a practitioner’s request for a waiver; and (3) issue a waiver when the board determines a waiver is warranted. Complete details can be found in: iga.in.gov/legislative/2018/bills/ senate/221
And from ISMA’s Legislative News for 3/15/19, “As you may recall from the first half of session, ISMA has actively supported HB 1294, which removes criminal penalties tied to new INSPECT requirements and moves the INSPECT law into a more appropriate section of Indiana law. After passing out of the House unanimously, it has moved on to the Senate and is scheduled for a committee hearing this Wednesday (March 20). ISMA will continue to testify in support of this legislation until it is on the governor’s desk! The INSPECT prescription drug monitoring program is an important tool for providers in their efforts to help combat Indiana’s opioid crisis. This week, it was reported that IU Health’s opioid prescriptions are down 13 percent since the health system integrated INSPECT with its electronic health records. This is clear evidence that the health care provider community’s response to state efforts promoting use of INSPECT is making a difference in the fight to stop opioid diversion and prevent Hoosiers from becoming addicted.“
