STATEHOUSE (Feb. 25, 2013) — State Sen. Ron Grooms’ (R-Jeffersonville) bill to help prevent overprescribing and abuse of controlled substances passed the Senate today by a vote of 50-0.

Grooms said Senate Bill 246 would allow only licensed physicians, hospitals or hospices to have an ownership interest in a business that prescribes, dispenses or administers controlled substances. Controlled substances include most narcotic pain relievers, such as hydrocodone and oxycodone. The bill would also call on Indiana’s Medical Licensing Board to adopt standards for the safe and medically appropriate prescribing of these drugs.

“Recent news reports about massive overprescription of pain killers and prescription drug dealing in our home communities highlight the urgency in finding a comprehensive way to curb this epidemic,” Grooms said. “Today’s legislation will lead to the adoption of statewide standards for safe and reasonable prescribing practices of controlled substances. That will be a major development toward preventing these dangerous drugs from being sold illegally and used for non-medical purposes.”
                                                    
SB 246 now heads to the House of Representatives for further consideration. Its sponsors will be Reps. Steve Davisson (R-Salem), Ed Clere (R-New Albany) and Steven Stemler (D-Jeffersonville).

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