Conaway & Pinkin Bill to Ensure Safe Transmittal of Electronic Rx’s to Prevent Substance Abuse Clears Legislature

(TRENTON) – By a vote of 71-0, the full Assembly on Monday approved legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Herb Conaway, Jr., M.D. and Nancy Pinkin to ensure that electronic systems used by health care providers to transmit prescriptions for certain controlled dangerous substances meet the requirements outlined by the federal government.

“By encouraging the increased use of electronic prescribing we can help reduce the potential for fraud, diversion, and abuse of prescription medications,” said Conaway (D-Burlington).

The bill (A-3831) would require each owner or administrator of an electronic health records system that is used to transmit electronic prescriptions in New Jersey to ensure that the system meets the federal requirements to accept, process, and transmit prescriptions for Schedule II controlled dangerous substances.

“The electronic transmittal of prescriptions is becoming increasingly prevalent, which is encouraging,” said Pinkin (D-Middlesex).  “However, it’s crucial that these transmittal systems meet stringent security requirements in order to effectively combat potential opioid abuse from every angle.”

Entities operating or administering a system on the effective date of the bill will have one year to meet this requirement as a condition of continuing to transmit electronic prescriptions in the state.  Entities commencing operation or administration of an electronic health records system that is used to transmit electronic prescriptions in New Jersey after the effective date of the bill will be required to meet the requirement as a condition of electronically transmitting prescriptions in the state.

The legislation now will go to the Governor for further consideration.