Provider Frequently Asked Questions
The following are frequently asked questions about the
Prescription Monitoring Program. The department has also
developed a provider fact sheet for printing.
If you would like to provide information on the program to your
patients you can use the
public fact sheet.
What is a Prescription Monitoring Program?
The PMP, referred to as Prescription Review, is a
secure online database that will be used across Washington State
to improve public health. Practitioners will have access to
their patient’s information before they prescribe or dispense
drugs. This will allow them to look for duplicate prescribing,
possible misuse, drug interactions, and other potential
concerns. More information means better patient care.
Which drugs does the Washington PMP monitor?
Prescription Review collects data on Schedules II, III, IV, and
V controlled substances. For a list of these medications please
visit
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=69.50
What does it do?
-
Prescription Review is a
centralized database that will hold controlled substance
prescription information for all patients across the state.
-
Dispensers† will submit
data to the database.
-
Prescribers will be able
to review prescription history information and look for
potential interactions.
What do I need to do?
-
Dispensers will began
submitting data to the system on October 7, 2011.
-
Practitioners can now register and create an account on our
website
http://www.wapmp.org/practitioner/pharmacist/.
-
Practitioners will be
able to request and receive patient prescription information
beginning January 2012.
Is this new?
While many states around the
country, including our neighbors Idaho and Oregon, have PMPs, it
is new to Washington. State Law Chapter 70.225 RCW authorized
the Washington State Department of Health to establish a
Monitoring Program.
Do other states have a similar
program?
Currently 48 states have laws that
authorize the establishment and operation of a PMP, and 37
of these states' programs are up and running. Find more
information on these programs on the Alliance of States with
Prescription Monitoring Programs website:
http://www.pmpalliance.org/
Which practitioners can
access the data?
Physicians, pharmacists,
dentists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other
licensed clinicians and professionals authorized by the
Washington State Department of Health.
Are there tools to help me?
Yes. In addition to the website (www.wapmp.org)
and the Dispenser factsheet,
frequently asked questions (FAQ) sheets by profession and a
“Quick Tips” for how to log in and register are available at
http://www.wapmp.org/wa-pmp-resources.html.
Dispensers must begin submitting data
October 7, 2011. Practitioners and other authorized users will
be able to access the data beginning January 2012.
What prescription information is collected?
Information will include: the patient’s name, address, and date
of birth, pharmacy and prescriber information, and specific
prescription information. Prescription information includes the
drug name and dosage, and the prescribing and dispensing dates.
What are the benefits?
Prescription Review will protect the public and will:
Increase:
- Quality of patient care
- Confidence when prescribing/dispensing
- Efficiency of medical care
Decrease:
- Drug misuse
- Accidents and potential deaths
- Crime rates
- Taxpayer costs
Who can
access information in the system? The following groups
can access the information under PMP law and rule:
- Persons authorized to prescribe or dispense controlled
substances to provide medical or pharmaceutical care for
their patients;
- An individual who requests their own prescription
monitoring information;
- Health professional licensing, certification, or
regulatory agency or entity;
- Local, state, and federal law enforcement or
prosecutorial officials engaged in an investigation
involving a designated person;
- Medical examiners and coroners for cause of death
determination;
- Authorized practitioners of the Department of Social and
Health Services or the Health Care Authority regarding
medicaid program recipients;
- The director or director's designee within the
Department of Labor and Industries for workers' compensation
claimants;
- The director or the director's designee within the
Department of Corrections for offenders committed to the
Department of Corrections;
- Other entities under grand jury subpoena or court order;
and
- Personnel of the department for purposes of
administration and enforcement of this rule or Chapter 69.50
RCW.
Public or private entities may get data for statistical,
research, or educational purposes. They will receive data
without information that could be used to identify
individual patients, dispensers, prescribers, and persons
who received prescriptions from dispensers. Are
provider permitted to share information? Yes.
However, this is limited to a health care provider
sharing information with another health care provider
engaged in an individual patient’s care. What if
I suspect system information is accessed or used
inappropriately? Report improper access or
disclosure of information in writing to the Department
of Health. You should include what information was
inappropriately accessed or used, when, by whom, and why
you consider this action inappropriate. |
