Bill Aiming To Prevent Painkiller 'Doctor Shopping' Advances

A House subcommittee approved a bill Wednesday afternoon that would require all Oklahoma doctors to use an electronic database that tracks which painkillers a patient may have gotten from another doctor.

Oklahoma ranks number one in the nation for painkiller abuse, and ninth for overdose deaths.

2/21/12 Related Story: Oklahoma Database Tracks Pain Killer Abuse, But Are Doctors Using It?

Currently about 30 percent of doctors in our state don't use the system.

The bill now moves to the full House for consideration.