DATABASE FOR TRACKING DRUGS FACES HURDLES

TALLAHASSEE -- A plan backed by Gov. Jeb Bush to create a massive
electronic database that would track prescription drugs faces a showdown
vote today in the Florida Legislature.

Despite firm opposition by several top legislative leaders who see it as a
threat to patient privacy, House Speaker Johnnie Byrd relented to Bush's
lobbying pressure and agreed Thursday to bring the proposal to a final vote
in the House today.

The plan also hasn't cleared the Senate, where passage also is necessary
after any House action.

Because of the legislative hurdles to overcome on the frenzied final day of
the session, proponents say it's a long shot to get it to Bush's desk.

The proposal, mentioned by Bush in his address at the start of the 60- day
session, came in response to 3,324 prescription-drug overdose deaths in
Florida last year, as well as investigations by the Orlando Sentinel and
South Florida Sun-Sentinel into prescription-drug abuse and Medicaid fraud.

The system would allow doctors, designated medical assistants and
pharmacists to look up online the pharmacy records of patients age 17 and
older to ensure they haven't been shopping around for multiple prescriptions.

The records monitored would include potentially addictive drugs, such as
Xanax, Valium and the painkiller OxyContin.

To help make the legislation more palatable to lawmakers, Purdue Pharma
Inc., the manufacturer of OxyContin, has agreed to negotiate with the state
over paying the costs for the database.

Analysts say it will cost about $2 million to develop and about $2.8
million a year to run.

Bush, Harrell and other proponents contend it will be a major new weapon
against Medicaid fraud, drug abuse and "doctor shopping."