MEDFORD — U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark is convinced switching to electronic prescriptions will help curb the practice of over-prescribing opioids.
The Massachusetts Democrat has joined a bipartisan effort to curb the opioid epidemic that takes nearly 100 lives daily nationwide.
“Parents across the country worry they will be next to get the call their child has overdosed,” Clark said in a statement.
Americans and the elected officials must discuss and fight addiction in forums from town and city halls to the White House, she said.
Clark is cosponsor of legislation to change the way opioids are prescribed, requiring electronic prescriptions for pain medications covered by Medicare.
Research shows that 27 percent of those with the highest risk of overdosing are prescribed pain medication by more than one physician, she said. The legislation would eliminate duplication of prescriptions.
She said the proposed bill would also eliminate the costs and inefficiencies of paperwork, and strengthen communication between doctors and patients.
“Congress should come together to pass this commonsense solution to prevent overdoses and save lives,” Clark said.
She cosponsored the measure with U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican.
He said Oklahoma has one of the highest opioid overdose rates in the nation. Massachusetts is also near the top of the list nationally for opioid overdoses.
“By requiring all doctors and pharmacists to use an online database when prescribing these highly addictive drugs, we allow e-prescriptions to control, track, and monitor these highly addictive painkillers on a new level,” Mullin said in a statement, adding, “This bill prevents patients from doctor shopping and prevents fraudulent, handwritten paper prescriptions.”
