Hollington Announces House Passage of Bill to Fight Prescription Drug Abuse

State Rep. Richard Hollington, R-98, announced that the Ohio House of Representatives voted to accept Senate changes to House Bill 93, designed to combat prescription drug abuse and "pill mills."

The legislation, which moves to Gov. John Kasich for his signature, addresses the Ohio Automated Rx Review System, established in 2006 to assist health care professionals in identifying drug-seeking behaviors.

Hollington said that in addition to enhancing that system, the bill also will limit prescribers' ability to personally furnish controlled substances, enact Medicaid reforms to improve consumer education and allow for better care coordination, improve licensing and law enforcement for pain-management clinics, and develop a statewide prescription drug “take-back” program.

Senate changes included modification of the definition of a "pain management clinic," a 30-day delay on the prohibition on pain management operation without a license and permission for the Bureau of Workers Compensation to access OARRS.