RD333 - Compilation of the Frequency of Collection of Data of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs pursuant to SB 638 (2014)

  • Published: 2014
  • Author: Department of Health Professions
  • Enabling Authority: Letter Request from Senate Committee on Education and Health

Executive Summary:
During the 2014 Session of the General Assembly, Senate Bill 638 was introduced by Senator Ralph Smith to require reporting of covered substances to the Virginia Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) within three days of dispensing. The Senate Committee on Education and Health decided to pass the bill by indefinitely but to refer the subject matter to the Virginia Board of Pharmacy. On behalf of the Board, the following report was prepared by the Director and Deputy Director of the Prescription Monitoring Program.

Virginia's Prescription Monitoring Program was implemented in response to a prescription drug abuse epidemic that began in Southwest Virginia. The program is one of many tools that assist prescribers and dispensers in making more informed treatment and dispensing decisions. It is also designed to be a tool for authorized law enforcement and regulatory personnel to assist them in investigations related to prescription drug abuse and diversion.

The PMP started operations in September 2003 as a fax-based system covering only Schedule II prescriptions in Virginia's southwest region. In 2006, the PMP went statewide and began using a web-based platform. At that time, the Virginia PMP required reporting of all Schedule II, III and IV controlled substances dispensed by both resident and non-resident pharmacies as well as dispensing physicians. However, the system was still not available to registered users during evenings, nights and weekends.

In October 2009, the PMP enabled automated response software that provided access 24/7. Ease of use and increased availability of the program prompted huge growth in the program. In 2013, the program processed greater than one million requests ; and during calendar year 2014, program staff anticipates the program may process approximately two million requests . As request volume increases, the number of individuals obtaining prescriptions from a relatively large number of both prescribers and dispensers continues to decrease.

As perceived added value of the PMP also increases, expectations with respect to timely data have also been increasing. There is a current trend in reporting toward submission of data more frequently than once per week, though the great majority of states (including Virginia) require weekly reporting at the present time (59%). Very few states require reporting less than once per week (10%), and fewer still require on-line real-time reporting (2%).

This report identifies the reporting time frames for each state as obtained from information provided by the National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws (NAMSDL). These reporting time frames are current as of 8/29/2014. Refer to page 8 of this document for the map of current reporting intervals as collected by NAMSDL.