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ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor
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S.B. 333
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prescription drug monitoring database. Accordingly, an organization like the DEA
could search the database for the sole purpose of finding offenders to prosecute.
Fourth, Senate Bill 333 emphasizes law enforcement over treatment It is
questionable whether prescription drug data alone can be used to identify problematic
prescribing patterns especially since the data will not be supplemented by additional
information such as medical records. I do not advocate adding medical records to the
database but believe that the prescription drug data could be misinterpreted without
the proper context.
Finally, Senate Bill 333 creates an Advisory Board after legislation has been
introduced. The Advisory Group does not have the ability to truly advise DHMH on
how to implement a successful prescription drug monitoring program because the law
has already been written. Legislation needs to be drafted after such a group has been
consulted.
Given all of these serious questions surrounding Senate Bill 333, I have asked the
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, in consultation with the Maryland
Health Care Commission, to form an advisory group of all the relevant stakeholders,
including but not limited to physicians, nurses, pharmacists, hospitals, and advocates
to examine prescription drug monitoring and other ways to limit prescription drug
abuse and diversion. This is an important issue that must be addressed in the
appropriate manner. The advisory group will focus on issues such as the use of
electronic records, electronic monitoring of controlled drug prescriptions, a standard
of care for pain management, patient confidentiality, and will emphasize the
treatment of addiction. DHMH and the Maryland Health Care Commission will be
required to report on their progress and recommendations prior to the end of this year
so that Maryland can move forward to address these important issues.
For the above stated reason, I have vetoed Senate Bill 333.
Very truly yours,
Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.
Governor
Senate Bill No. 333
AN ACT concerning
Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
FOB the purpose of establishing requiring the Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene to establish and maintain a certain Prescription Drug Monitoring
Program within the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; establishing
the powers and duties of the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene under the
Program; requiring prescription monitoring data to be destroyed after a certain
time period unless a certain request for retention of certain information is
submitted to the Department; creating a certain Advisory Board on Prescription
Drug Monitoring to assist in the design, implementation, and evaluation of the
Program; establishing the chair, the terms of the members, and the
responsibilities of the Board; creating requiring the Secretary to appoint a
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