Missourians speak out against 'doctor shopping'

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3/ 8/2011: Radio Story - Patients with prescriptions may have more power when insurance companies try to switch prescription medications, according to a bill in Senate Health Committee

Intro:	A bill to keep people from doctor shopping means a drug monitoring system for Missouri.
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Wrap: A House committee reviews a bill to keep people from bouncing from one pharmacy to another and abusing prescription drugs.

Representative Keith Frederick sponsors the bill to establish a statewide system for monitoring prescription drugs.

Republican Senator Rob Schaaf says the drug monitoring program is an invasion of privacy.

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Description: "I don't want my drug medication list on a database that big brother will have access to. It is a freedom issue and a privacy issue."

The bill would allow several people access to the databases containing patients prescription such as state prosecutors, prescribers, and law enforcement officials.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Natalia Allen.

Intro:	A St. Louis based drug distribution company supports a bill that will give the government access to private medical records.
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Wrap: An Express Scripts representative urged lawmakers to pass legislation that would monitor prescription drugs.

Michael Harold says the bill will help business because the company will be able to distribute more pills - a 90-day supply instead of 30.

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Description: "Because we are a mail ordered pharmacy in St. Louis that ships our medication all over the country we are still controlled by Missouri law."

The House committee did not vote on the bill and there's no time line for the bill to be taken up again.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Natalia Allen.

Intro:	A Missouri Senator vows to strike down a bill giving the government access to some private medical records.
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Wrap: Republican Senator Rob Schaff - the only physician in the Missouri Senate - says he'll prevent a statewide prescription drug monitoring program from becoming law.

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Description: "If it comes to the Senate it will pass only if it will overcome my filibuster."

A House Committee heard testimony from the public on the bill Wednesday, but didn't vote.

Schaaf says he doesn't want Big Brother to see his medication list.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Natalia Allen.