GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
State Forges Ahead with Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
Pennsylvania is moving forward with its implementation of a prescription drug monitoring program( PDMP) with the expectation that it will become operational in August or early fall of 2016. In March, the Department of Health( DOH) announced that Meghna Patel, MHA, was named director of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program office. Her primary role is to develop and launch the online database that will allow prescribers and dispensers to access patients’ controlled substance prescription medication history. DOH also chose a vendor, Appriss, to oversee development of the online database.
Below are frequently asked questions regarding the Achieving Better Care by Monitoring All Prescriptions( ABC-MAP) Program:*
What is the purpose of the new PDMP?
The purpose of the PDMP established by Act 191 of 2014 is:
• To be used as a tool to increase the quality of patient care by giving prescribers and dispensers access to a patient’ s controlled substance prescription medication history, which will alert health care professionals to potential dangers for purposes of making treatment determinations; and
• To aid regulatory and law enforcement agencies in the detection and prevention of fraud, drug abuse and the criminal diversion of controlled substances.
How does the PDMP work?
Once the new PDMP is operational, by law, dispensers of monitored prescription drugs are required to collect and submit information to the PDMP about each dispensing of a controlled substance prescription drug within 72 hours. The PDMP stores the information in a secure database and makes it available to health care professionals and others as authorized by law.
What are controlled substances?
Controlled substances are drugs that have varying degrees of potential for abuse or dependence. Drugs and other substances that are considered controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act( CSA) are divided into five schedules. Substances are placed in their respective schedules based on whether they have a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, their relative abuse potential and likelihood of causing dependence when abused. The following are examples of Schedule II through Schedule V controlled substances:
• Schedule I: drugs with no currently accepted medical use in the U. S. and a high potential for abuse( heroin, LSD, ecstasy).
• Schedule II: drugs with acceptable medical use, but with a high abuse potential that lead to dependence( morphine, methadone, oxycodone).
• Schedule III: drugs with less abuse potential to a moderate risk of abuse potential( aspirin / codeine combinations, buprenorphine).
• Schedule IV: drugs with a lower abuse potential( alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam).
• Schedule V: drugs with less abuse potential than other scheduled drugs and contain limited quantities of a controlled substance( robitussin AC, phenergan with codeine).
Who is exempt from reporting?
A health care provider is exempt from reporting to the ABC-MAP when he / she:
• Works at a licensed health care facility and the controlled substance is administered in the facility.
• Works in a correctional facility and the patient cannot lawfully visit a prescriber outside of the facility without being escorted by a correctional officer.
• Directly administers a controlled substance.
• Is a wholesale distributor.
• Is a licensed provider in the Living Independence for the Elderly Program.
• Is a hospice provider.
• Is a prescriber at a licensed health care facility and the quantity dispensed is limited to an amount adequate to treat the patient for a maximum of five days with no refills.
• Is a veterinarian.
JULY / AUG 2016 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL 7