Senate unanimously passes electronic prescription exemption for in-home hospice care

An exemption allowing in-home hospice providers the ability to opt out of electronic prescribing has been passed by the full Senate.

Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, authored Senate Bill 1278, which allows outpatient hospice patients to have greater access to their medications by exempting their doctors from Oklahoma’s electronic prescription law that went into effect on Jan. 1.

The law was a recommendation from the Oklahoma Commission on Opioid Abuse and aims to combat prescription fraud and opioid abuse.

“Since most hospice care in Oklahoma is in-home, we need to extend this exemption to these patients and their doctors,” Rader said. “Outpatient hospice patients face debilitating pain, and their doctors need the flexibility to pick up the phone and immediately call in a prescription. This exemption ensures Oklahomans that choose in-home hospice care are shown compassion and have quick access to pain relief during their last days of life.”

Rep. Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, is the House author for the measure. It now heads to the House for consideration. 

For more information, contact: Sen. Dave Rader at 405-521-5620, or email Dave.Rader@oksenate.gov.

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