Prescription monitoring program

In the United States, prescription monitoring programs (PMPs) or prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) are state-run programs which collect and distribute data about the prescription and dispensation of federally controlled substances and, as the individual states deem appropriate, other potentially addictive or abusable prescription drugs. PMPs help to prevent adverse drug-related events through opioid overdoses, drug diversion, and substance abuse by decreasing the amount and/or frequency of opioid prescribing.^[1]

Most US health care workers support PMPs, which intend to assist physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, dentists and other prescribers, the pharmacists, chemists and support staff of dispensing establishments, as well as law-enforcement agencies. The collaboration supports the legitimate medical use of controlled substances while limiting their abuse and diversion. Pharmacies dispensing controlled substances and prescribers are typically required to register with their respective state PMPs and (for pharmacies and providers who dispense controlled substances from their offices) to report the dispensation of such prescriptions to an electronic online database. Although forty-nine states have implemented PDMPs, little is known about these programs and their overall effectiveness. ^[2]

Definition

In the United States, prescription monitoring programs (PMPs) or prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) are state-run programs which collect and distribute data about the prescription and dispensation of federally controlled substances and, as the individual states deem appropriate, other potentially addictive or abusable prescription drugs. PMPs help to prevent adverse drug events through opioid overdoses, drug diversion, and substance abuse by decreasing the amount and/or frequency of opioid prescribing.^[3] A 2017 study found that "US states that have more robust prescription drug monitoring programs have fewer prescription opioid overdose deaths than states with weaker PMPs."^[4]

Goal

Most health care workers support PMPs^[5] which intend to assist physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, dentists and other prescribers, the pharmacists, chemists and support staff of dispensing establishments, as well as law-enforcement agencies. The collaboration supports the legitimate medical use of controlled substances while limiting their abuse and diversion. Pharmacies dispensing controlled substances and prescribers typically must register with their respective state PMPs and (for pharmacies and providers who dispense controlled substances from their offices) report the dispensation to an electronic online database. Some pharmacy software can submit these reports automatically to multiple states.

List of programs by state

References

Further reading

• Moyo P, Griffin BA, Onukwugha E, Palumbo F, Harrington D, Alexander GC, Simoni-Wastila L. Impact of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) on Opioid Utilization Among Medicare Beneficiaries in 10 States. Addiction. 2017 May 12. doi: 10.1111/add.13860.