Lawmakers push for modernized prescription info rules
Harshbarger, Mullin make bipartisan push on sharing prescription information electronically
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WASHINGTON _ A bipartisan group of lawmakers is working to eliminate a decades-old rule that requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to send prescribing information to healthcare providers via paper mail, a process critics say is outdated, inefficient, and wasteful.
Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) introduced companion bills in the House and Senate aimed at modernizing the transmission of drug prescribing information by allowing it to be shared electronically.
The current policy, which dates back to 1962, mandates that drugmakers print and mail detailed technical documents for healthcare providers—a process that can take between eight and twelve months.
“This shouldn’t even still be a debate in 2025,” said Harshbarger, who is also a licensed pharmacist. “We should be getting up-to-date prescribing information to pharmacists and doctors as quickly and efficiently as possible—and that’s obviously not on paper through the mail.”
She called the legislation “commonsense,” noting that it would update regulatory requirements established before the advent of email.
Sen. Mullin echoed her remarks, saying the change is long overdue. “This commonsense legislation is long overdue and will have an immense impact on both our healthcare professionals and patients,” Mullin said. “Electronic prescriptions will simplify how providers access and manage data, improving efficiency without compromising quality.”
The FDA previously attempted to reverse the paper-only requirement through a rule change in 2014, but the effort was blocked by Congress during the appropriations process.
According to sources familiar with past opposition, the rule has remained in place partly due to lobbying from paper industry stakeholders. Critics claim the regulation serves as a “blue state earmark for a Canadian conglomerate,” pointing to pushback from the Maine congressional delegation, which has historically supported local paper mill jobs.
Despite past resistance, the current legislation appears to have broad bipartisan support. In the House, the bill has been co-sponsored by Reps. David Valadao (R-CA), Don Davis (D-NC), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Scott Peters (D-CA), Julia Letlow (R-LA), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), Steve Womack (R-Ark.), and Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.). In the Senate, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) has joined as a co-sponsor.
If passed, the legislation would bring federal regulations in line with modern communication standards and streamline access to critical prescribing information for providers across the country.
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