Scott Signs Pill Mill Bill

Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation imposing tougher restrictions and penalties on pain clinics and unscrupulous doctors Friday, commonly known as the "pill mill" bill.

I am proud to sign this bill which cracks down on the criminal abuse of prescription drugs. This legislation will save lives in our state and it marks the beginning of the end of Floridas infamous role as the nations pill mill capital," Scott said.

Florida, which is home to 98 of the 100 top Oxycodone-dispensing doctors in the U.S., sees seven deaths per day related to prescription drug overdoses and has come under fire from law enforcement authorities in other states whose citizens travel to Florida to get powerful painkilling prescriptions. Scott launched a strike force in March designed to combat pill mills where doctors overprescribe painkillers, funded with $800,000 in unused federal grants.

The bill also strengthens the prescription drug monitoring program, which Scott was initially against.