FL Surgeon General Temporarily Halts Portion Of "Pill Mill" Law

TALLAHASSEE (CBS4) - Part of Florida's new so-called "pill mill" legislation has been temporarily suspended by the state surgeon general.

Dr. Frank Farmer signed an emergency order Wednesday that suspended the requirement for physicians to use new counterfeit-proof prescription pads. The order states that many Florida physicians haven't been able to get the new pads. Since the new law took effect Friday, pharmacies have been refusing to fill otherwise-legitimate scripts.

Florida lawmaker's unanimously passed a comprehensive "pill mill" law during this past spring's legislative session. It provides penalties for doctors who over prescribe painkillers, tightens rules for operating pharmacies and includes a prescription-drug monitoring database.

Florida is considered the epicenter of prescription drug abuse. "Pill mills" is the name for pain-management clinics that supply drug dealers and addicts with illicit prescription painkillers.

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