Counties able to get federal funds for drug monitoring

January 11, 2017 at 11:45 p.m. | Updated January 11, 2017 at 11:50 p.m.

by Associated Press

Bottles of prescription drugs as labeled Lipitor, TriCor, Plavix, Singulair, Lexapro and Avapro are displayed at Medco Health Solutions Inc., in Willingboro, N.J. The cost of prescription medicines used by millions of people every day is about to plummet. The next 15 months will bring generic versions of seven of the world's 20 best-selling drugs, including the top two: cholesterol fighter Lipitor and blood thinner Plavix.
Bottles of prescription drugs as labeled Lipitor, TriCor, Plavix, Singulair, Lexapro and Avapro are displayed at Medco Health Solutions Inc., in Willingboro, N.J. The cost of prescription medicines used by millions of people every day is about to plummet. The next 15 months will bring generic versions of seven of the world's 20 best-selling drugs, including the top two: cholesterol fighter Lipitor and blood thinner Plavix.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. Department of Justice says Missouri counties are now eligible to receive federal funds for prescription drug monitoring programs to combat the opioid epidemic.

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri announced Wednesday the change means counties are able to apply for federal money from the Department of Health and Human Services. Without the provision, the federal grants would have been limited to states.

Missouri is the only state in the country without such a program at the state level.

McCaskill has advocated for the change and she said Wednesday the announcement allows counties to do critical work to fight drug abuse while the state of Missouri "continues to sit on its hands."

Upcoming Events