A bill making its way through Connecticut’s legislation would raise the threshold when it comes to reporting prescribed opioids. This move has some support because it would cost the state less but leaves people worried that it could increase problems with opioid overdoses.

The state’s House of Representatives passed House Bill 6856 unanimously. The bill was originally going to require doctors to check on a patient’s history before prescribing more than a three day (72 hour) supply of medication but state officials thought that might cost them too much money. The bill now requires that physicians report a seven day supply which the state already does, so it wouldn’t cost them more to keep that provision. This, even as other states are lowering the timeframe that they require reports of opioid prescriptions.

Some think that by lowering the time pharmacies have to report opioid prescriptions, the less chance a patient has to “doctor shop” or “pharmacy shop” and get their prescription filled at several different pharmacies.

The co-chairman of the public health committee, Representative Matt Ritter, hopes that this issue will be revisited because he understands the importance of it and the dangers of opioids. Other legislators agreed that eliminating the 72-hour reporting requirement made them nervous. They thought if just one or two more people overdosed it would undo the benefits of the savings to the state.

The bill is not just about the timing of reporting requirements. It will allow pharmacists to dispense an anti-overdose drug called Narcan and require that physicians and other medical personnel who make decisions about prescribing opioids undergo continuing education regarding pain medication and management.

Overdose deaths have been on the rise in several states, and Connecticut is no exception. In 2012 there were 174 fatal opioid overdoses, 257 in 2013 and 307 in 2014. The bill still has to pass in the Senate but it got sweeping support in the House of Representatives.