Government Relations
Key health-related budget items in the Governor’ s budget include:
• Proposes the consolidation of four state departments: the Department of Human Services( DHS), the Department of Health( DOH), the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs( DDAP) and the Department of Aging( PDA) into one, unified Department of Health and Human Services. Governor Wolf’ s stated purpose for the consolidation is“ to encourage more effective collaboration and service delivery, enhance program effectiveness, reduce administrative costs and eliminate duplicative positions. The administration estimates a savings of more than $ 90 million annually.
• Proposes the consolidation of three programs that purchase, dispense and monitor prescription drugs: PACE, the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program( PDMP) and the pharmacy functions in the Medical Assistance and CHIP programs. The administration estimates a savings of more than $ 45 million.
• Proposes establishing an All Payer Claims Database to collect medical, pharmacy and dental claims, as well as eligibility and provider files from private and public payers, including Medical Assistance, Medicare and commercial insurers. The administration believes this database is instrumental to controlling spending because it will measure utilization and costs.
SPECIAL NOTICE: State Issues Mandatory Opioid Consent Form for Minors
Act 125 of 2016 gives the Department of State’ s Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs( Bureau) the authority to create and mandate the use of a consent form prescribers must use before prescribing opioids to minors. Pennsylvania law requires that in most non-emergency situations, a prescriber must first discuss the potential risks associated with the medication with the minor and the minor’ s parent, guardian or other authorized adult, and obtain written consent using the state’ s new form before prescribing opioid medications. With some exceptions, prescribers may not prescribe more than a 7-day supply of controlled substances containing opioids to minors.
On February 4, 2017, the Commissioner of Professional and Occupational Affairs provided notice of the approval of the consent form all prescribers must use when prescribing opioids to patients under the age of 18. The consent form is available on the Bureau’ s website at www. dos. pa. gov / ProfessionalLicensing.
In SB 1367, now Act 125 of 2016, prescribers must comply with the following procedure before issuing to a minor the first prescription in a single course of treatment for a controlled
MAY / JUNE 2017 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL 9