Missouri state senator continues weird opposition to monitoring prescription drug use

In addition to sponsoring a bill designating jumping jacks as the official exercise of Missouri, state Sen. Rob Schaaf has strong opinions about controlling opioid abuse.

A St. Joseph Republican, Schaaf has clung to the belief that Missouri should not establish a prescription drug–monitoring program. Every other state has set up a monitoring system to thwart patients who may go “doctor shopping” in an effort to obtain painkillers.

Schaaf, a physician, has filibustered against bills to establish such monitoring in Missouri. A right-wing Marcus Welby, he holds the curious view that when people die of overdoses, that “just removes them from the gene pool.” He has also opposed Medicaid expansion and promoted a ballot measure that prevented the state from setting up its own health insurance exchange.

In the current legislative session, Schaaf introduced a bill to set up a prescription drug monitoring program different from those in other states. Calling Schaaf's idea "fake" and a "boondoggle," the Missouri Medical Association supports a competing piece of legislation that would bring Missouri's efforts in line what the rest of the country is doing. (The health news site STAT published a story this morning that explains the differences in the proposals.)

Read more: http://www.pitch.com/news/blog/20854201/missouri-state-senator-continues-weird-opposition-to-monitoring-prescription-drug-use