In a complete reversal of his earlier position, Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday, while calling on Congress tighten federal restrictions on companies that make and sell addictive prescription drugs, threw his support behind the drug database he long opposed.
Speaking before a hearing on the “growing danger of prescription drug diversion” held by the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, Scott, with no mention of his earlier opposition to the drug database, instead boasted about Florida’s current crackdown on its pain-pill problem.
“So, while the database in Florida is brought online, I continue working with my legislative partners to find solutions that protect patient privacy,” Scott said.
Scott said the drug database will now be rolled out after being held up by a “lawsuit”, alluding to an appeal by the losing vendor. That case which was resolved last week, cleared the way for Surgeon General Frank Farmer to authorize the Department of Health, one week ago, to begin work on the drug database.
The database is aimed at tracking people who are abusing prescription drug medication or who are selling them on the street. Operating successfully in 34 states across the U.S., the database aids in preventing addicts from doctor shopping.
Florida is believed to have more than 1,200 “pill mills” operating in the state, with an equal number of deaths occurring from prescription drug overdose in 2010.
