Prescription Drug Monitoring Program: Preventing the Abuse of Prescription Drugs

Over the past decade, the volume of prescriptions for controlled substances has increased at ten times the rate of the United State’s population growth. This is not simply a result of more controlled substances on the market; it is a direct result of patients acquiring prescriptions illegally.

To combat this nationwide increase in the abuse of prescription drugs, many states have implemented Prescription Monitoring Programs (PMP) to capture and report on controlled substance dispensing (including Schedule II through V). The aim of a PMP is to monitor prescribing and dispensing activities, looking for patterns that indicate misuse, abuse, or diversion of prescription drugs.

GHS can help. Our PMP Version 3.0 solution, encompassing every part of the process from data collection to online reporting, allows states to operate and manage the entire prescription monitoring process, or outsource some or all of it to us. Together with clients, we seek to:

  • Improve health outcomes by looking for inappropriate use;
  • Identify patients at risk for prescription drug abuse or in need of drug abuse counseling;
  • Identify physicians in need of training on controlled substance abuse; and
  • Reduce costs and realize a return on investment.

GHS’ prescription monitoring services options consist of the following key components:

  • Collection of Controlled Substance claims data from dispensers;
  • Automated error checking, with correction requests to dispensers;
  • Friendly, informative help desk for dispensers, physicians, and state users;
  • Fast, web-based queries for physicians and other registered users;
  • Advanced, web-based ad-hoc analytical reporting system for state administrators; and
  • Experienced analysis and consulting available on request.

States can apply for federal funding of their proposed Prescription Monitoring Programs through the Harold Rogers Grant. Funding is available to any state with legislation or regulations pending or in place to monitor narcotic prescribing activities from a centralized database. Applications for funding are accepted every year and awarded to states meeting grant requirements. More information on the Harold Rogers Grant and funding application process can be found at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/prescripdrugs.html.