FOUND ON WEB- Have A Prescription Drug Problem? Big Brother Is NOW Watching!! (As Of Jan. 1, 2012)

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. The department will be providing a form and instructions on how to request your own information later next year. The system only holds data going back to October 1, 2011.
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/