Beshear Issues Warning To Unethical Doctors

{Frankfort, Kentucky}...Before signing legislation to fight prescription drug abuse Tuesday, Governor Steve Beshear issued a warning to doctors who skirt ethical standards. Surrounded by legislative leaders and law enforcement officials, Beshear said we're here for the signing of the bill, "but we're also here to deliver a loud and clear message to the pill pushers in white coats and the illegitimate pill mills in Kentucky, and that message is, get out of this state, because we're coming after you." Beshear was joined by Attorney General Jack Conway, the legislation's sponsor House Speaker Greg Stumbo, Senate Majority Leader Robert Stivers and other leaders. House Bill 1 requires that prescribers use an electronic prescription monitoring program and that pain clinics be owned by medical practitioners. Conway said about 90 percent of doctors who have used KASPER have reported that it resulted in changes to their prescribing practices, but only about a quarter of the state's doctors are currently using the monitoring program, and the bill will change that.