HARRISBURG – The House of Representatives approved a proposal sponsored by Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York) today that would assist in the Commonwealth’s ongoing battle to address opioid addiction.
Senate Bill 432 would allow for the Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) to have access to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), which was created in 2014. Providing this data to MCOs would help improve oversight and prevent fraud, according to Phillips-Hill.
“This bill will help both patients and taxpayers by ensuring fewer Medicaid recipients fall victim to the dangers of addiction,” Phillips-Hill said. “Through this legislation, the Commonwealth will be able to better identify potential prescription drug abuse among individuals enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program immediately before the problem spirals out of control.”
Phillips-Hill said she believes the proposal will save taxpayer money by identifying waste and prescription drug abuse within Medicaid and reduce the need for recipients to undergo drug treatment and rehabilitation.
The legislation moves back to the Senate for concurrence on House amendments.