I am gravely concerned about provisions in LD 2117 which would mandate that all prescriptions dispensed for all Maine citizens be recorded in an electronic government database, the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP). The PMP already exists to track controlled substance prescriptions, such as opiates (Oxycontin, Morphine, etc.), tranquilizers (Valium, Xanax), and stimulants (Ritalin, Adderall) to prevent drug abuse and ‘doctor shopping.’ This bill would dramatically expand the program far beyond its intended scope. On its face, this appears to be a governmental intrusion against the privacy rights of its citizens, which is Orwellian in nature. While the authors of the…
Author: Michael Ciampi
Michael Ciampi
Michael A. Ciampi, M.D. is a family physician practicing in South Portland. Being frustrated with the dysfunctional state of insurance and government-directed health care, he became a pioneer in the Direct Primary Care movement, opening one of the first DPC practices in New England in 2014. Since then, dozens of physicians have followed his example and now work directly for their patients rather than insurance company middlemen. He is an active advocate for free-market healthcare reforms. Dr. Ciampi is a cofounder of the national Direct Primary Care Alliance, president-elect of the New England DPC Alliance, and a healthcare policy advisor for the Heartland Institute.