Senators send letter supporting e-prescribing of controlled substances; NACDS expresses appreciation

ALEXANDRIA, Va. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores openly applauded 19 senators who signed a letter to the U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey that stated their support for e-prescribing and urged the Drug Enforcement Administration to issue regulations for the e-prescribing of controlled substances, which currently is prohibited.

The senators who signed the letter included: Arlen Specter, R-Pa., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Richard Burr, R-N.C., Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Tom Coburn, R-Okla., Susan Collins, R-Maine, Richard Durbin, D-Ill., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Tim Johnson, R-Ill., Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., John Kerry, D-Mass., Herb Kohl, D-Wis., Robert Menendez, D-N.J., Barack Obama, D-Ill., Jack Reed, D-R.I., Debbbie Stabenow, D-Mich., John Thune, R-S.D., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore.

NACDS submitted a statement advocating the use of EPCS for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing chaired by Whitehouse on Dec. 4. NACDS supports e-prescribing as a way to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of the overall prescribing process.

“DEA regulations permitting EPCS have been delayed for years, inhibiting wider uptake of e-prescribing, and postponing the realization of this technology’s benefits,” the letter states. “It is our belief that both the health care and law enforcement communities would benefit greatly from a secure EPCS system, and that technological solutions are at hand. We urge your prompt attention to this matter, and request that DEA issue regulations for EPCS as quickly as possible.”

“We applaud these Senators for their support of e-prescribing and thank Senator Whitehouse for his leadership on this issue,” said NACDS president and chief executive officer Steve Anderson.