(Washington, D.C.) — The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) issued the following statement on bipartisan Senate companion legislation (Every Prescription Conveyed Securely Act) to combat opioid abuse through the increased use of electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) in Medicare Part D, introduced today by Senators Michael Bennett (D-CO) and Dean Heller (R-NV).

“E-prescribing for controlled substances helps ensure each prescription is written by a legitimate provider, and filled at a legitimate pharmacy,” said PCMA President and CEO Mark Merritt. “This solution attacks the opioid epidemic by preventing doctor shopping, drugstore shopping, and fraud.”

PCMA recently outlined a number of solutions to Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb that would help make certain people receive opioid prescriptions only when medically appropriate.