A North Country state representative is calling for a one-year moratorium on a bill requiring medical professionals to send prescriptions to pharmacies electronically because he says providers are not yet ready to meet the bill’s requirements.

“I support our state’s goal to reduce ‘doctor shopping’ and eliminate the incidence of overprescribing medicines,” said Sen. Joe Griffo, R-Rome. “However, in talking with health care providers, it’s become clear that our state is not ready to implement this provision in an effective manner.”

Griffo’s 47th Senate District covers a north-south swath across the center of St. Lawrence County from Massena to Fine, including Potsdam. It extends into Lewis and Oneida counties.

The so-called “I-STOP” legislation could take effect March 27, if the moratorium doesn’t pass. It will require nurse practitioners, midwives, dentists, podiatrists, physicians, physician assistants and optometrists to issue prescriptions directly to the pharmacy by electronic means, Griffo said.

Griffo said he has has talked to health care providers about the new law and many cite difficulties complying with the new provision.

They say that they did not receive timely direction from the state Health Department regarding the new requirements, according to Griffo. The department failed to give providers important information regarding which e-prescribing systems would satisfy the requirements, as well as the cost of purchasing them and maintaining them. And while the prescription applications must be certified by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, Griffo says that no company has yet met that requirement.

“This is a good law, but its effectiveness may become compromised by a flawed roll-out,” said Griffo. “It’s important for patient safety, privacy and care that we get this right the first time. A one-year moratorium will help us ensure that the e-prescribing system is ready to serve New Yorks [sic] in an effective manner from day one.”