By Dan Conti, Kentucky Public Radio
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wuky/local-wuky-970414.mp3
WASHINGTON – Kentucky's system for tracking the dispensing of prescription drugs is "forward leaning" but it's not enough. That's what President Obama's drug czar told a Senate panel in Washington Tuesday.
Gil Kerlikowske testified on the nation's prescription drug abuse epidemic before the subcommittee on crime and terrorism.
Kerlikowske is director of the White House Office of Drug Control Policy. He says the Kentucky system known as KASPER and similar initiatives in other states need to work together.
"During our four day trip to eastern Kentucky and West Virginia, we learned that doctors would have to access multiple systems when it came to checking on patients and making sure that they weren't over-prescribing for patients who were seeing other physicians."
Kerlikowske says an electronic monitoring system that includes data from every state would better prevent doctor shopping and pharmacy hopping.