A proposed law in Missouri would keep a closer watch on what prescriptions you get and how often you get them.
The Missouri Senate passed a bill today that would crack down on meth makers looking to buy large amounts of pseudoephedrine in popular cold medicines.
It would also monitor prescriptions of controlled prescription drugs like hydrocodone and oxycotin...which are known to be abused painkillers.
KHQA's Melissa Shriver dug deeper to find out how this bill will work and how it will affect your rights to privacy for this KHQA FactFinder report.
The Show-Me-State holds a number of titles...one of them is the Meth Capital of the Country.
Not long ago the state passed a law requiring folks to sign a paper log every time they buy pseudoephedrine and ephedrine cold medicines...some of the main ingredients of meth. After that law...meth production went down 40 percent in the state.
This proposed law would require pharmacies and other businesses to switch to an electronic, real-time log which includes the signature of the buyer.
Supporters say that will further help cut down on meth cookers.
All pharmacies and stores that sell medicine would have to link up to an electronic database...which will track the regulated medications.
This system may mean more work for Pharmacists like Bonnie Jansen with Denman Country Drugs in Lewistown.
Jansen said, "It depends on how they write the law, what record keeping system they require, if they require a paper trail and whether you have to buy new equipment. It will involve more work but if it helps get rid of meth labs in Missouri, it will be a good thing."
The law also cracks down on drug seekers...who get their highs from prescription drugs like oxycotin and hydrocodone.
It will monitor whether or not those patients are using multiple doctors to get these types of addictive pain killers .
The idea is to cut down on prescription drug abuse and meth-making.
But is this an invasion of your privacy?
Missouri Governor Matt Blunt said, " We need to ensure we're protecting peoples' privacy. There're having that discussion in the House and Senate floor. We'll be following it closely. It's important to track but important to protect the privacy of individual Missourians."
State Senator Wes Shoemyer told KHQA only the patient's own physician and law enforcement agencies like the Missouri Highway Patrol would have access to a patient's information. Violating a patient's privacy would be a Class A Misdemeanor that could come with more than 6 months in Jail and a one thousand dollar fine.
The bill now goes onto the Missouri House for further discussion and approval.
