Prescription drug monitoring: Missouri Sen. Rob Schaaf explains his about-face

JEFFERSON CITY -- Rob Schaaf could see the writing on the wall.

The Republican state senator from St. Joseph has done more than anyone else in recent years to block a statewide prescription drug monitoring program in Missouri.

Every other state in the country has such a program, a government database aimed at stopping people from getting prescriptions from multiple physicians to feed an addiction or to sell, a practice known as “doctor shopping.”

Schaaf and other critics argue that these programs are an infringement on personal liberty and an invasion of privacy that do little to actually curtail rising opioid addiction. And he’s proud Missouri is the only state without one.

But on Tuesday, he laid down his sword. Schaaf publicly agreed not to filibuster a prescription drug monitoring bill that has cleared the Missouri House and passed a Senate committee.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article143451769.html