National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting (NASPER) Bill Receives Preliminary Funding

Main Category: IT / Internet / E-mail
Also Included In: Pharmacy / Pharmacist;  Medical Practice Management
Article Date: 02 Apr 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) announced that National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting (NASPER) has received preliminary funding to begin implementation. The Omnibus Appropriations Bill (H.R. 1105) includes $2 million in appropriated funds for NASPER in 2009.

The National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting, or NASPER, was a bill proposed by ASIPP, with the support of ASA, AMA and other organizations, to protect patients and physicians from the deleterious effects of controlled substance misuse, abuse and trafficking while maintaining patient access with quality care. The ultimate goal of NASPER is to have a coordinated prescription monitoring program in all 50 states, which could save hundreds of millions of dollars in prescriptions in the Medicaid and Medicare programs and also save countless numbers of lives.

NASPER was signed into law on August 11, 2005 by President George W. Bush, and was authorized a total of $52 million to be appropriated over a five year period. Since 2005, ASIPP has worked to gain the authorized and necessary appropriations to begin implementation. Currently, there are 38 states that individually fund their own prescription monitoring programs based on requirements originally set by NASPER. With NASPER's new appropriated support, states can now save money by funding these programs with the federal grant as well as create a universal monitoring program.

NASPER has received unanimous support in the House as well as overwhelming bi-partisan support in the Senate. Sponsors of the unanimously passed NASPER bill in the House were U.S. Rep. Edward Whitfield (R-KY) who introduced the legislation, Frank Pallone (D-NJ), and 27 bi-partisan co-sponsors. In the Senate, NASPER sponsors were Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and Richard Durbin (D-IL); bi-partisan co-sponsors included Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Lamar Alexander (R-IN), Christopher Dodd (D-CT), David Vitter (R-LA), Richard Burr (R-NC), and Jim Talent (R-MO).

"The initial $2 million is an encouraging start that will allow individual states to put NASPER into motion; however, in order to realize NASPER's full potential, it is imperative to secure full funding," said Dr. Laxmaiah Manchikanti, ASIPP CEO and Chairman of the Board. "ASIPP will work tirelessly to see that funding not only continues in 2010, but that it is funded for the full authorized amount of $10 million for that fiscal year."

"This appropriation of funding will finally make it possible for states to implement NASPER," said ASIPP President Dr. David Schultz. "And for states like my state of Minnesota that have already succeeded in implementing the program, the funding will further the capabilities by bringing uniformity to existing and all future programs."

Manchikanti agreed, "We are hopeful that this preliminary funding will move NASPER into the next phase. As bordering states begin to have the ability to communicate via a universal system, the program will have the functionality that was intended." He added, "We would never have seen this day without the support and dedication of those who remained steadfast over the years."

About The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians

ASIPP's mission statement is to promote the development and practice of safe, high quality, cost-effective interventional pain management techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of pain and related disorders, and to ensure patient access to these interventions. Founded in 1998 by current CEO Laxmaiah Manchikanti, MD, ASIPP is a rapidly growing not-for-profit organization that supports the needs of physicians who practice Interventional Pain Management across the country.

Since its inception, the organization has had substantial impact on the practice of interventional pain medicine, resulting in an impressive list of major achievements. In 2005, ASIPP succeeded in passing The National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act (NASPER), which provides and improves patient access to quality care, and protects patients and physicians from the deleterious effects of controlled substance misuse, abuse and trafficking. ASIPP is headquartered in Paducah, KY and currently has over 4,000 members.

The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians
http://www.asipp.org