Oregon's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) is a program developed to promote public health and welfare and help improve patient care. The information will aid healthcare providers and pharmacists to better manage patients' prescriptions to improve quality of care. It will also support the appropriate use of prescription drugs.
Data upload procedures began on June 1, 2011. This is when pharmacies were able to create accounts and begin submitting data. Healthcare providers and pharmacists can apply for accounts to access patient information from the PDMP Website.
The data is being collected so that your provider can give you better health care.
The number of deaths related to poisoning in Oregon has increased five-fold since 1990. This increase is mainly due to deaths associated with controlled substance prescription drugs. From 1999 - 2008, more than 1,300 Oregonians died from prescription drug poisonings. For these reasons, Oregon Senate Bill 355 established a PDMP in Oregon when the governor signed the bill into law in July, 2009.
The information includes: the patient’s name, address, date of birth, sex, pharmacy and prescriber information, and specific prescription information including the drug name and dosage, when it was prescribed, and when it was dispensed. This is only for prescriptions that are classified as controlled substances (Schedules II, III and IV).
The Oregon PDMP collects data on Schedules II, III and IV controlled substances. For a list of these medications and more information, go to http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/schedules/.
No. The program is not intended to prevent people from obtaining needed drugs nor is it intended to prevent healthcare providers from prescribing needed drugs to their patients.
Pharmacies licensed with the Oregon Board of Pharmacy that dispense controlled substances in the state of Oregon, or to an address in the state, are required to electronically report prescription data. Neither hospital inpatient dispensing data nor data from veterinarians is collected.
Healthcare providers and their authorized staff can access the system, but only for information regarding their own patients. Pharmacists and their authorized staff can access the system, but only for information regarding their own customers.
No. Prescribers and pharmacists are not required to use the system.
Law enforcement agencies will not have direct access to the system, but law enforcement officials may request information from the Oregon Health Authority if they have a valid court order based on probable cause for an authorized drug-related investigation of an individual.
No. Licensing boards may request information from the system, but only related to an investigation of a licensee related to licensure, renewal or disciplinary action.
The information being gathered is health information protected by Oregon law and is safeguarded in both its collection and distribution. Access to the database is limited to authenticated users who agree to terms and conditions to assure the confidentiality of patient data. Reasonable efforts are made to keep your information private and secure.
Yes. However, this is limited to a healthcare provider sharing information with another healthcare provider who is engaged in an individual patient’s care.
Improper access or disclosure of information should be reported in writing to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). The notification should include what information you suspect was inappropriately accessed or used, when and by whom, and why the action is considered inappropriate. OHA’s Information Security Office will investigate the matter.
Yes. To request a free copy of their report, a patient needs to fill out a record request form and mail it to the program along with a copy of a government-issued photo ID.
Errors should be reported to the program in writing. The notification should identify the error and any other relevant information. Staff will check to make sure it is not a system error. If it is a system error, the record will be corrected. If it is not a system error, the record will be flagged to indicate the error. Patients or healthcare providers then will need to request from the pharmacy that submitted the data to correct the error since the information was originated by the pharmacy.
Currently 42 states have laws that authorize the establishment and operation of a PDMP, and 34 of these states' programs are up and running.
Healthcare providers and pharmacists are the ones paying for the system. Licensees pay a $25 annual fee included in their boards licensing fees. No general state funds are used. The rationale is that this will be a tool used by health care providers and pharmacists to help provide better patient care.
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Prescription Drug Monitoring Program - IPE | PO Box 14450
Portland, OR 97293-0450 Phone: 971-673-0741 | Fax: 971-673-0990