I am a licensed social worker and work with Maine’s geriatric population. Previously, I worked with adults diagnosed with chronic and severe mental illness for four years.

I have extensive work experience with the very population the passing of LD 150 would affect and oppose the passage of An Act to Require Drug Testing for Medicaid Recipients with Prescriptions for Scheduled Drugs.

The state of Maine is facing a crisis when it comes to the addiction of pain medications. This fact cannot be disputed, and is witnessed in the larger cities of Maine as well as small, rural towns.

However, to select only recipients of Medicaid to undergo drug testing sends out a strong message that those persons with means to pay for other health care must not be overusing, or abusing their prescribed drugs. Thus, adding to the stigma that poverty is the root cause of abuse and overuse of prescribed medications. More alarming, this bill could possibly decrease the availability of medical providers now willing to accept Medicaid for payment and prescribe much-needed pain medications.

The state of Maine is right to be concerned with the abuse and addiction to prescribed scheduled drugs, as all one needs to do is pay attention to the news and you will quickly hear reports of pharmacies robbed for pain medications and elderly persons targeted. However, should we not place any responsibility on the medical providers prescribing the scheduled drugs to their patients?

Do they not have a duty to be aware of what their patients are taking and already perform simple lab tests to ensure the health and well-being of all patients?

I would argue that medical providers do have a responsibility, if not a liability to ensure their patients are receiving the best care possible. This includes follow-up visits and communication with their patients regarding whether prescribed medications are working for them, or not.

In my work many people are prescribed and actively using a scheduled drug.

Who are these people? These are people with severe spinal bifida, contorted arms and legs, persons living with AIDS, arthritis throughout the body, 80- and 90-year-old men and women who literally cannot get out of bed in the morning because their bodies ache after years of working in the field, or caring for children having caught up with them. And there are people on hospice care literally waiting to die and, yes, very much in pain.

There are soldiers coming back from war wounded and in need of pain medications so they can simply tolerate their day. Do these people not deserve the best medical care and doctors who not only prescribe the most appropriate course of action, but continue to provide follow-up to their patients?

LD 150 left out a very critical piece and that is who will be footing the bill for all of this drug testing? Nor does the bill address how many times a recipient will be required to undergo drug testing. Every time a new medication for a scheduled drug is given, or annual drug testing, or when there may be a suspicion of misuse?

There are too many unanswered questions to consider passing this bill the way it is currently written.

We must place the responsibility back where it belongs — with medical health professionals who are already required to practice under the model of safety and effectively provide the best care for all patients.

Misty Marston of New Sharon is a graduate student in the social work department of the University of Maine Orono.