Is New Hampshire ready to accept electronic prescription drug monitoring?

After nearly two years of study, the Legislature will take up a bill in the new year that would set up an electronic database for certain classes of prescription drugs. The latest version of the measure passed the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee last week by a 15-3 vote.

Proponents say prescription drug monitoring programs can reduce medical errors, identify potential addicts for treatment and stop illegal drug use.

But others say the price -- potentially, the privacy of consumers -- is too high.

State Rep. Cindy Rosenwald, D-Nashua, is a sponsor of HB 630 and the chair of the committee that just passed the amended version. "We saw it really as a public health bill, not a law enforcement bill," she said. "We are trying to find people who have prescription drug abuse problems and intervene to try to help them."

State Rep. Peter Batula, R-Merrimack, another sponsor, said an electronic system would reduce medical errors, such as those caused by misreading handwriting. In addition, he said, "It will show the doctor immediately what the person is taking and if there's any reaction to other drugs he may be taking."

Batula expects the system also would prevent "doctor shopping."

The measure only includes prescriptions for so-called Schedule II and III drugs, which Rosenwald said "are the ones prescribed that have the highest potential for abuse."

The current bill was scaled back from its original version, according to Rosenwald. The compromise was to remove about one-third of the drugs from the database, she said.

The proposed legislation would create an advisory council to set up the program, and to review the data. It would be up to this group to refer potentially illegal activity to law enforcement and regulatory agencies.

Rosenwald said the data will be reviewed by the council in a way that protects patient confidentiality. "You will never come to light unless you are doing something that should bring you to light," she said.

A 1999 landmark Institute of Medicine study estimated preventable medication errors led to the deaths of more than 7,000 Americans each year. That's why Batula believes eventually there will be a nationwide electronic prescription database.

But he expects a legislative battle here when the matter comes up in January.

"We're going to really have difficulties putting this system in, especially in New Hampshire, where we're a little bit more concerned on confidentiality than perhaps some other states that have already passed this sort of legislation," Batula said. "It's going to be a long, hard road, but in my opinion we will get there eventually."