Updated at 7:30 p.m. with comments from the Missouri Alliance for Freedom.

JEFFERSON CITY • After three weeks of delayed debate, the Missouri House gave initial approval to a new prescription drug monitoring program — but with less support than in years past.

Under the bill, the state Department of Health and Senior Services would start a database to monitor federal Schedule II through Schedule IV drugs, including prescription painkillers. The sponsor, Rep. Holly Rehder, R-Sikeston, said that Missouri has become a haven for doctor shopping — where patients seek out multiple doctors for the same prescriptions.

Rep. Cloria Brown, R-South St. Louis County, said that when her mother was in and out of treatment, she had to keep track of her mom's prescriptions. She said Rehder's bill would help seniors taking multiple drugs and help reduce access to drugs for young people.

"I was my mother's database," Brown said. "I kept track of all her meds. Fortunately I did, because whenever she was in the hospital — and she was there often — when she would leave, they would say these are your meds and I would say 'no, she already takes that.'"