Although Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown doesn't belong to the Senate Judiciary Committee, he was the first to testify at this morning's hearing on “Responding to the Prescription Drug Epidemic: Strategies for Reducing Abuse, Misuse, Diversion, and Fraud.”

Brown talked about the extent of the problem in his native state, especially southern Ohio. And he promoted a bill he introduced that he said would prevent prescription drug abusers from acquiring excess prescription drugs – which they may abuse or illegally-resell – by barring them from visiting multiple doctors and pharmacies. Currently 20 states have similar legislation.

"Under a Medicaid Lock-In program, states would identify high-risk prescription drug users – those who are receiving an excessive amount of prescription drugs or those who have been convicted of a drug-related offense," Brown told the committee.

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