Governor Greitens signs executive order for prescription drug monitoring program

Governor Eric Greitens signed an executive order Monday directing the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to begin work creating a prescription drug monitoring program.

The announcement was made at Express Scripts, a suburban St. Louis based pharmaceutical provider. The company will be a private-sector partner in the state program.

“There is no single program, or law, or executive order that can fix this crisis,” said Governor Greitens. “This program is a step–and it’s a big step. Throughout this week, we will outline the other steps we will take to address the opioid crisis.”

Events are scheduled in St. Louis, Cape Girargeau, Springfield and Kansas City.

After the announcement, Senator Claire McCaskill released a statement that read, “While I certainly welcome the Governor’s attention to this crisis, I have serious questions about how meaningful this action will be if doctors writing prescriptions–and pharmacists filling those prescriptions–don’t have access to this database.”