(HARRISBURG) – The state Senate today approved a bill that continues a program designed to help doctors and pharmacists battle opioid abuse, according to Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-Erie), who supported the bill.
House Bill 1774 extends the successful Achieving Better Care by Monitoring All Prescriptions (ABC-MAP) program that allows access to a patient’s prescription medication history through an electronic system to those who prescribe medications and those who dispense medication.
Electronic access to a patient’s prescription medication history allows doctors, pharmacists and other medical professionals to better treat patients. ABC-MAP enables opioid prescribers and dispensers to identify warning signs of abuse including “doctor shopping” and “pharmacy shopping” that occurs when patients attempt to obtain opioid prescriptions from multiple doctors or pharmacies.
The program was set to expire on June 30, 2022. This bill extends the program until Dec. 31, 2028. The bill now goes to the Governor for his signature.
Contact: Matt Azeles mazeles@pasen.gov