Board lacks authority to track prescription drugs

Associated Press

The board charged with overseeing physicians in California lacks the authority to identify those who might be overprescribing pain killers and other drugs, a problem that has led to overdose deaths and criminal charges against a handful of doctors in recent years. The president of the Medical Board of California on Monday responded to criticism that the body has failed to properly police its ranks. Sharon Levine told a joint legislative committee that the state's prescription drug tracking system is underfunded and that the board cannot track doctors even if the program had sufficient money.

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