JEFFERSON CITY (AP) Finding the money for Missouri’s prescription drug monitoring program is causing debate in Jefferson City.

During a July visit to Express Scripts in St. Louis, Missouri Governor Eric Greitens announced the program. It’s designed to analyze prescription and dispensing data as a means to catch overprescribing of addictive medications. Greitens made the move after lawmakers this year failed to pass a different prescription drug monitoring program

Thursday, House Budget Committee members drilled administration officials over why they didn’t get specific approval from lawmakers to spend money on the program. It’s estimated to cost about $470,000 this fiscal year. Supporting the Greitens plan, Missouri’s Budget Director says it’ll be paid for with additional funding that unexpectedly came from the federal government. Rick Sanborn KTRS news