Tighter Security Coming For Prescription Database
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami/AP) — In an effort to protect patient information, state health officials announced an increase in security of its statewide prescription drug database Wednesday.
The announcement comes a week after personal information of thousands of patients was leaked from the database, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
The information was part of a criminal investigation but the ACLU alleges some information was included for patients not part of an investigation.
The Florida Department of Health is considering limiting the number of people allowed to use the database and creating a system requiring all agency administrators be notified when someone requests database information.
Lawmakers created the database to crack down on pill mills. Law enforcement officials said Florida has become the nation's epicenter of prescription drug abuse, at least in part because it was among several states that were late to implement monitoring programs.
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