Grundy County may join other Missouri counties in enacting a prescription drug monitoring program.
Emily Varner with the Saint Louis County Public Health Department explained Saint Louis County’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program during an informational meeting held by the Grundy County Commission Tuesday morning. Varner attended the meeting by phone.
The commission is considering if Grundy County should join 48 other jurisdictions in participating in Saint Louis County’s program. Varner reported the program makes it possible for prescription records to be all in one place. She added the program only shows records in Missouri as of now, but Saint Louis County plans to discuss an interstate program in the next few months.
Varner said Saint Louis County would help set up Grundy County’s program with a user agreement between the two entities, and Saint Louis County would send quarterly reports to Grundy County. She noted it would be up to Grundy County to enforce legislation and determine penalties for pharmacies and health care providers not in compliance.
The total cost for Grundy County to participate would be $181.05 per year. However, Varner said grant funding through September 2019 allows for counties to participate at no cost. Appriss is the current vendor for the program. Varner commented that providers have said it is easy to use and searches on it are fast.
Pharmacist Dave Jennings with Hometown Pharmacy in Trenton said he has seen an increase in the number of prescriptions for opioids recently, and added he believes Grundy County should work with the surrounding counties in the implementation of a prescription drug monitoring program.
Livingston County recently enacted a program through Saint Louis County.
Grundy County Commissioner Joe Brinser said the commission needs to determine the steps for getting an ordinance approved before holding a public meeting to discuss adoption of the agreement between Grundy County and Saint Louis County.
He noted Seventh District State Representative Rusty Black’s office was very helpful in getting Grundy County started in receiving information about enacting a prescription drug monitoring program.
