Pill mill bill heads to hearings in Philadelphia City Council

A Philadelphia City Councilman wants to tighten controls on so-called “pill mills” where people are getting prescriptions too easily.

Councilman Mark Squilla introduced the bill saying he’s seen pill mills pop up twice in his council district.

“Where we had neighbors complaining about the activity around a doctor’s office,” Squilla said. “What we found out after further investigation was a lot of these offices had armed guards, cash operations.”

The bill Squilla says is designed to empower Philadelphia’s Department of Licenses and Inspections and Department of Health to shut down the doctor’s offices if there is a problem.

“What it does it gives the city the ability to go after these prescribers where L and I combined with health where they could pull their business license or cease their operation when they are deemed to be running a pill mill.”

Currently it’s primarily up to law enforcement to go after alleged pill mills. The bill will be the subject of upcoming council hearings.