Senate File 151 - Introduced SENATE FILE 151 BY ZAUN A BILL FOR An Act requesting the establishment of an interim study 1 committee by the legislative council regarding prescription 2 pain medication. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 2014XS (2) 87 pf/nh
S.F. 151 Section 1. EVALUATION OF PRESCRIPTION PAIN MEDICATION 1 CRISIS —— INTERIM STUDY COMMITTEE. 2 1. The legislative council is requested to establish an 3 interim study committee to comprehensively evaluate the state’s 4 response to the national prescription pain medication crisis 5 from both the public health and law enforcement perspectives. 6 2. The committee may receive input from agencies and 7 entities including but not limited to the department of public 8 health, the department of public safety, the board of pharmacy, 9 the department of corrections, the state medical examiner, 10 and representatives of the medical community, community-based 11 corrections, law enforcement agencies, and employers. 12 3. In conducting the evaluation, the committee shall review 13 information including but not limited to all of the following: 14 a. The number of prescriptions for pain medications issued 15 in Iowa and upward and downward trends over a specified period. 16 b. The number of deaths annually attributable to 17 prescription pain medication overdoses and illegal drugs, the 18 accuracy of the underlying reporting system for such deaths, 19 the potential for underreporting of such deaths especially for 20 older individuals for whom a death might be reported as due to 21 natural causes based on the age of the individual, and the need 22 to develop a framework for reporting and disseminating more 23 accurate data. 24 c. The protocols being followed by the medical community to 25 assist those persons addicted to prescription pain medications 26 to reduce reliance on the medications and slowly withdraw, and 27 the roles of pharmacists, prescribers, and others in averting 28 and reporting possible addiction. 29 d. Whether the current scheduling practices for 30 prescription pain medications are helpful or harmful in 31 preventing addiction and criminal activity and whether the 32 state should continue to strictly follow the scheduling 33 practices of the federal government or explore another 34 approach. 35 -1- LSB 2014XS (2) 87 pf/nh 1/ 3
S.F. 151 e. The specific treatment models available for those 1 persons addicted to prescription pain medications, including 2 those available in correctional settings and those utilized for 3 individuals with a medical condition for which a symptom is 4 chronic pain. 5 f. Alternative pain management approaches and the 6 availability, affordability, and effectiveness of such 7 approaches. 8 g. The potential budgetary impact on the correctional 9 system if the misuse of prescription pain medications results 10 in criminal activity. 11 h. The limitations on employment opportunities for and 12 increased health insurance costs to employers due to Iowans 13 with chronic pain issues. 14 i. The capacity of the state to meet the needs of older 15 individuals who have become reliant on pain medications to 16 enhance quality of life. 17 4. The committee shall submit recommendations to the 18 governor and the general assembly by January 1, 2018. 19 EXPLANATION 20 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 21 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 22 This bill requests that the legislative council establish an 23 interim study committee to comprehensively evaluate the state’s 24 response to the national prescription pain medication crisis 25 from both the public health and law enforcement perspectives. 26 The bill provides that the committee may receive input 27 from agencies and entities including but not limited to the 28 department of public health, the department of public safety, 29 the board of pharmacy, the department of corrections, the state 30 medical examiner, and representatives of the medical community, 31 community-based corrections, law enforcement agencies, and 32 employers. The bill specifies the types of information the 33 committee is to review in conducting its evaluation and directs 34 the committee to submit recommendations to the governor and the 35 -2- LSB 2014XS (2) 87 pf/nh 2/ 3
S.F. 151 general assembly by January 1, 2018. 1 -3- LSB 2014XS (2) 87 pf/nh 3/ 3