FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - State health officials in Kentucky are disputing claims that a new prescription drug law is hindering access to good medical care.

Legislation passed earlier this year that requires physicians to tap into the state's prescription monitoring system to review their patients' drug histories.

Lawmakers have called the step critical in fighting prescription drug abuse in the state, where more people have been dying from overdoses than car wrecks, but have gotten a multitude of complaints about the regulations being excessive.

The Courier-Journal (http://cjky.it/QF7hil) reports Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure Executive Director Mike Rodman testified Wednesday before a legislative committee and said most complaints are based on misunderstandings of the law and its intent.