Florida Pain Clinic Society Responds to Scott's PDMP 'Falsehood'

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Feb. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Florida Society of Pain Management Providers (www.Flspmp.org) moves to set the record straight on funding for the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) as Governor Rick Scott has chosen, albeit incorrectly, to make state funding an issue in his mission to repeal the PDMP legislation.

As recently reported in the Sun-Sentinel Governor Scott's spokesperson Brian Burgess in an attempt to defend the Governor's proposed PDMP repeal said that Scott's "critics put out 'an obvious falsehood' that no state tax money would be needed for the computer system. He asserted that a foundation established to raise money has not found enough."

In response to the Governor's above statement we are reminded of former U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan words "Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts"

THE (only) FACTS ON PDMP FUNDING "FOUND":

The foundation has "found" enough funds through grants and donations to assure the PDMP's operation for the next 2.5 years without a single penny of Florida tax dollars!

Based on data from the 34 states with operational PDMP history it is clear that Florida's PDMP will need approximately $1.2 million for its first two years of operation. Thereafter the projected annual cost to maintain the program is approximately $500,000.

With an expected system operational date of June 2012 the Department of Health has "found" enough funds to operate the program through December 2014 and fundraising continues.

Not a single dollar "found" comes from State of Florida taxes:

Funding "found" through Federal Grants:

Rogers Implementation Grant - $400,000

Rogers Enhancement Grant - $400,000

Federal Grants TOTAL: $800,000

Funding "found" through Private Grants:

National Association of State Controlled Substance Authorities (NASCSA): $45,952

Private Grants TOTAL: $45,952

Funding "found" through Private Fundraising:

Private Fundraising TOTAL: $475,000

Total funds "found" for Florida PDMP operation: $1,320,952

Additional "found" is $100,000 in grants and pledges to be received later this year.

"It is my belief that the few that are opposed to the PDMP are fishing for a reason to kill the program yet the problem with such an irrational scheme is that they never will find a rational reason and the facts make that abundantly clear," said Paul Sloan President of the FLSPMP. Sloan added, "We have an Rx abuse epidemic here and this misguided attempt to repeal a free and proven program that will save countless lives is simply indefensible."

For more "found" truths on the PDMP go to:

http://www.flspmp.com/PDFs/PR%2010%20Feb%202011.pdf

http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/faq/rx_monitor.htm

http://www.flspmp.com/PDFs/PR%2015Feb2011.pdf

For More information on this issue:

Florida Society of Pain Management Providers / www.flspmp.org

Warren Pearson; Executive Director / 850-567-6164 / [email protected]

Paul Sloan; President / 941-349-6583 / [email protected]

SOURCE Florida Society of Pain Management Providers