Last year, a Pill Mill Bill (SB 2272) was passed by the Florida Legislature. This was promoted by health advocates and lobbyists , and was approved. The bill was to require all doctors and pharmacists in the state to record all information regarding the drug prescriptions they issue to their patients in a state-owned and regulated database.
However, recently Florida Governor, Rick Scott has decided to kill this bill. Lobbyists, and defenders of the bill are now scrambling to defend this recently passed state bill. The proponents of the bill are enraged since they believe that it is too easy for the "pill-mills" to give too many prescription drugs to people. Many authorities blame the pill mills for the explosion of prescription pills on the black market.
Rick Scott is pursuing a leaner state budget, and has promised and delivered on several cost cutting policies. But on an interesting note, the financing of the database which is around $500,000 a year, was not funded through taxes rather through donations and grants. Needless to say many people are questioning the motives behind this move. Rick Scott's staff insists that the reasons behind the move is to keep limited government involvement in business and thus has no place in monitoring prescription pills.