State Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, a vocal supporter of the statewide prescription drug monitoring program that went live yesterday, is calling on two state medical groups to utilize the database (also known as E-FORCSE).
In a letter to the heads of the Florida Medical Association and the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association, Fasano encourages their respective memberships to use the now-operational program, which will track certain controlled substances across the state.
“As you know the legislation which authorized the creation of the database did not require doctors to consult the database before writing a prescription for a controlled substance,” writes Fasano. “However, I truly believe that most physicians will consult the database for both their own and their patients’ protection. For those health care professionals who may not fully understand the reasons to consult the database, or who may choose not to, I am encouraging you to put the word out to your membership that taking but a few easy steps may end up saving lives.”
Beginning on Oct. 17, doctors will be able to access the dispensing information in the database as a means to thwart overdoses in a state where an average of seven people die per day due to misuse of prescription drugs.
View the letter, in its entirety:
