ST. LOUIS (AP) — Missouri is no longer the only state without a prescription drug monitoring program.Republican Gov. Eric Greitens on Monday signed an executive order establishing a drug monitoring program that will focus on those prescribing the drugs and filling the prescriptions.The announcement was made at Express Scripts, a suburban St. Louis based pharmaceutical provider. The company will be a private-sector partner in the state program.Greitens says the state’s approach could potentially become a national model.Missouri lawmakers for years have considered a drug monitoring program to combat doctor shopping and prescription opioid addiction. But efforts have until now failed, largely because of privacy concerns about keeping medical information in a database.

Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens speaks to reporters in St. Louis on July 17, 2017, after signing an executive order establishing a prescription drug monitoring program. Missouri was the last state without a PDMP. (AP Photo/Jim Salter)

Jim Salter