FL doctors could face drug database requirement for prescriptions

A proposal backed by the House committee on Thursday would require physicians to access a state drug database before prescribing controlled substances to new patients. The proposal, added to an omnibus health-care bill (HB 7113) drew objections from the Florida Medical Association and other physicians' groups. The prescription-drug database is designed to prevent doctor shopping by drug abusers and traffickers. The requirement added to the bill Thursday would apply to patients' initial visits to doctors. In such circumstances, doctors would be required to use the database to check those patients' medication histories before prescribing controlled substances.