OPPOSITION TO PRESCRIPTION DRUG MONITORING PROGRAM COULD BE SOFTENING

Gov. Rick Scott continues to express doubts about Florida's
prescription drug monitoring program. But there are new signs that
opposition is softening to the electronic database, aimed at stemming
the state's deadly trade in addictive painkillers.

The Legislature's top supporter and opponent of the program are
meeting today to hash out their differences.

The new head of the Department of Health said Tuesday that he will
implement the database, if the 2009 law creating it stands, as expected.

And members of Scott's tea party political base say they're not
opposing the program.

On Tuesday, the governor expressed concern about the epidemic that
kills an average of seven Floridians a day.

"Look, the pill mill issue is a major issue in our state. And we are
losing people every day. So we've got to come up with a plan that's
going to solve this issue," he said.

But he repeated his fears about patient confidentiality being breached
if anyone were to hack into the database, which aims to thwart "doctor
shopping" by people who go from doctor to doctor, and pharmacy to
pharmacy, filling duplicative prescriptions for powerful
medications.

"With regard to the database, I am very uncomfortable where we are now
because of privacy," Scott said.

Last week, tea party members gave state legislators a list of 11
issues that matter most to the organization. But the database didn't
rate.

"The tea party is focused on the tsunami of government debt, not the
prescription drug program, which we understand is to be privately
funded," said Karen Jaroch, chairwoman of the 912 Project in Tampa, a
tea party affiliate. "We have people for the program and against it,
so we're not taking a united stand on it."

Thirty-four states already have such databases, and none have reported
breaches of patient confidentiality. Still, that's a frequently voiced
objection.

"Like the governor, some of us have privacy concerns about the
database, but opposing it doesn't rise to the top of what we want to
take on as a group," said Sharon Calvert, chairwoman of the Tampa Tea
Party.

Rep. Rob Schenck, R-Spring Hill, has been adamantly opposed to the
electronic data base. But Schenck will meet today with the lead
supporter of the database, Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey.

"Rep. Schenck and Sen. Fasano will hash it out and come up with the
best solution. They both have the same goal of stopping deaths from
abuse of prescription drugs," said Schenck's spokesman, Ryan Anderson.

Fasano said he "would not compromise on repeal of the database," but
is open to compromise on his new legislation calling for the state to
eventually pay for the database, rather than relying on private
support as the 2009 law requires. Fasano also said he supports certain
parts of Schenck's bill, which would monitor drug wholesalers and
limit doctors' abilities to sell pain pills directly out of their offices.

Funds already have been raised for the program, and Purdue Pharma,
which makes the pain pill OxyContin, just donated $1 million. Last
week, a company vice president said Purdue is "open to a conversation
about long-term funding."

"A database is particularly important in Florida, not only for the
state itself but because people from other states like Ohio, New York
and Kentucky go there to abuse drugs," said Purdue's Alan Must.

But supporters of the monitoring program fear that even if the law is
not repealed, Scott's lack of support could still doom it. That's
because he supervises the state Department of Health, which would
administer the program.

"If he is prepared to be outright manipulative with the Health
Department, he could severely hamper the prescription monitoring
program," said Dan Gelber, a former Democratic leader in the state
Senate.

"He could fire anyone at Health who tries to implement the database or
find other ways to stall the contract," said Gelber.

But the new chief of the Health Department said such fears are
unfounded. Dr. Frank Farmer, an Ormond Beach internist and former head
of the Florida Medical Association, was appointed by Scott on Tuesday
to lead the department.

"If the Legislature keeps (the monitoring program) on the books in its
infinite wisdom, I'll support the law that makes it a tool," Farmer
said.