To Tallahassee and Back: The War on Drug Diversion and Doctor Shopping Continues

Representative Mike Fasano started his war on drug diversion, pill mills, doctor shopping and the associated related crimes and behaviors, during the final year of his first tenure in the Florida House.  In 2002 he sponsored legislation that would have created a prescription drug monitoring program.  Through his subsequent ten year career in the Florida Senate he successfully crafted legislation that ultimately led to Florida’s tough laws regarding pill mills and the creation of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. Now, in 2013, he continues the war on drug diversion and doctor shopping.

People doctor shop, that is visit multiple doctors during short periods of time, to obtain prescriptions for narcotic or other addictive medications.  Some people engage in this illegal activity because they have an addiction.  Others do it so they can sell the prescriptions, usually for a hefty profit.  This is known as drug diversion (diverting the prescription from its legitimate and intended purpose).  One of the main reasons behind the creation of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program is to identify and stop this criminal behavior.

Representative Fasano’s House Bill 831 was heard in the Florida House of Representatives this week.  The bill, building upon the years of success mentioned previously, further strengthens Florida’s laws in this regard.  The bill requires that all doctors who prescribe controlled substances must consult the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program prior to handing a prescription to a patient.  The database documents all controlled substances that individual has received.  If the doctor sees that there is a pattern suggestive of doctor shopping or addiction he or she can then refuse to fill the prescription.   If the patient needs help fighting an addiction this is the doctor’s opportunity to help the patient deal with that problem.

Current law requires that pharmacies must send controlled substance prescription information to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program at least every seven days.  Most pharmacies, if not all, are computerized and are capable of sending the data on a more frequent basis.  Representative Fasano’s bill changes the reporting time from 7 days to 2 days.  This change is extremely important since doctor shopping and the subsequent diversion usually occurs rapidly.  Up to date information is vital for health care providers when deciding whether or not to prescribe a controlled substance, especially to new patients.

When the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program was created it was done so without funding from the state.  A non-profit entity known as the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Foundation was created for the sole purpose of securing grants and private donations which are to be used to fund the day-to-day operation of the database.  State law specifically prohibits that state dollars and contributions from pharmaceutical companies not be used to fund the program.  Representative Fasano’s bill lifts the restriction on pharmaceutical dollars being accepted.  The ongoing funding of the database is vital.  Like most programs affiliated with the government, it is impacted by economic fluctuations.   Representative Fasano believes that any legal and legitimate source of funding be utilized. 

“Florida has come a long way in its war on pill mills, drug diversion and doctor shopping,” Representative Fasano states.  “Even though we have accomplished so much in the past ten plus years, there is still much to do.  This legislation is yet one more step towards a future where Florida will be a safer and healthier place for all.”

If you would like more information on legislation related to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, or any other bill that is working its way through the legislative process, please do not hesitate to let me know.  Just leave me a comment and I will respond in either a future blog post or in a direct reply.