Like you Chet, we do similar thing with narcotics.
In fact we keep a registry for patients prescribed chronic narcotics. We record name/diagnosis/narcotic medication/status of narcotic contract/date of last office visit/date of last urine drug screen/date of the last run Maine Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) report. This helps us keep track of our prescribing habits.
If patients ask why we are drug testing them or why we run the Maine PMP report, we tell them it's for their protection. I say something to this effect: "If a Maine DEA agent came into our office with a warrant to review your file, having a narcotic contract, clean urine drug screen, and proof that you are receiving your medications from only one physician will protect both you and I." Patients are receptive to this. Especially when I tell them that the state PMP registry is used by the Maine DEA to investigate patients with suspicious activity (multiple prescribers or unusually large Rx quantities).
