On Friday, the federal government announced that a set of grants that would have partially funded a state prescription drug database would be unavailable for the Fiscal Year 2011, a fact that has some proponents of Florida’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program understandably concerned. #
The announcement comes after months of political back-and-forth about the program, which finally seemed set in stone after Gov. Rick Scott changed his position and lent his support earlier this month. #
But even with possible federal grant money, funding for the Drug Monitoring Program has been a concern. Most of the program’s opponents would only see it implemented if state funds or donations from big pharmaceutical companies were disallowed. #
With no money from big pharma and no state dollars, the Drug Monitoring Program would rely solely on private donations and federal grants, like those from NASPER, the National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act. Since being signed into law in August 2010, NASPER has been responsible for the implementation of operational drug-monitoring programs in at least 35 states. #
Questions about the future of NASPER funds arose earlier this month when representatives of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration sent out an email stating that the future status of the funds was unknown. The email raised concerns among Drug Monitoring Program supporters like state Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, who are currently sponsoring a bill that would enhance penalties for pill mill operators and require that physicians be trained in the use of the drug-monitoring database. #
“The NASPER grant program is an important federal program to help PDMPs expand and succeed,” says Greg Giordano, Fasano’s chief legislative aide. “Sen. Fasano’s S.B. 818 has key provisions in the bill that would require the PDMP to meet NASPERS standards, and thus be eligible for NASPER grants. These dollars would help keep the PDMP operational long into the future.” #
Last Friday, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration sent yet another email about the funds, this one more direct: #
MESSAGE FROM SAMHSA: Its official. Section 1815(a)(2) of Public Law 112-10 (below), stipulates that no funds will be available for NASPER. Accordingly, there will be no NASPER grants for FY-2011. There may be additional formal instructions forthcoming for current and those States preparing applications, but, it’s important for States who are working on applications now. #
“While the federal decision pertains to the remainder of the current fiscal year, it shows that there is reason to be concerned for the long-term health of the NASPER funds,” said Giordano, following the release. #
