Public Frequently Asked Questions
The following are frequently asked questions about the
Prescription Monitoring Program, also referred to as
Prescription Review. To view and print more easily, the department has also
developed a public fact sheet.
Why does Washington have a Prescription Monitoring
Program?
The legislature passed a law in 2007 requiring the Department
of Health to create a Prescription Monitoring Program. The law
directs the department to design the program to improve health
care quality and effectiveness by:
- Reducing abuse of controlled substances;
- Reducing duplicative prescribing and overprescribing;
and
- Improving prescribing practices.
What will the program do?
Washington’s Prescription
Monitoring Program (PMP) improves public health and provides
better patient care. Practitioners will have access to patient
information before they prescribe or dispense drugs. The
information provided will allow a practitioner to look for
duplicate prescribing, possible misuse, drug interactions, and
other potential concerns. By having this information available
before prescribing or dispensing, practitioners can provide
improved care to their patients.
When will the Washington PMP system start?
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.
Which drugs does the Washington PMP monitor? The
Washington PMP 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
Who is required to report data to the Washington PMP?
Law requires licensed pharmacies and practitioners that dispense
controlled substances in the state of Washington, or to an
address in the state, to electronically report prescription
data. Dispensing is defined as providing more than a 24 hour
supply of a controlled substance for immediate use. The program
does not collect hospital inpatient dispensing data or data from
the administration of a controlled substance.
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.
How is
my PMP information protected? Your data is
protected health information and is safeguarded in its
collection, storage, and distribution. Access to the
database is limited to authenticated users who agree to
terms and conditions to assure the confidentiality of your
data. Are providers 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 being 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 and by whom, and
why you consider this action inappropriate.
Can I get a copy of my own
prescription information?
Yes. You may contact the program at
prescriptionmonitoring@doh.wa.gov or 360-236-4806 to
receive information on how to request your own information.
What if I find an error in a
patient record?
Patients or health care providers who
believe they have identified an error need to ask the
pharmacy or dispenser that submitted the data to correct the
error. The pharmacy or dispenser submitted the information
and can correct the data.
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/
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