RD461 - 2017 Annual Report of Virginia’s Prescription Monitoring Program


Executive Summary:
Authority for the PMP

The law governing Virginia's Prescription Monitoring Program is found in Chapter 25.2 of Title 54.1 of the Code of the Virginia. Regulations governing the program are found at 18VAC76-20-10 et seq.

Information requested by HB 2167 and SB 1180 (2017 General Assembly): That the Prescription Monitoring Program at the Department of Health Professions shall annually provide a report to the Joint Commission on Health Care and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions and the Senate Committee on Education and Health on the prescribing of opioids and benzodiazepines in the Commonwealth that includes data on reporting of unusual patterns of prescribing or dispensing of a covered substance by an individual prescriber or dispenser or on potential misuse of a covered substance by a recipient pursuant to § 54.1-2523.1.

Highlights From This Year's Report

• From Q4 2016 to Q3 2017, the number of individuals receiving greater than 100 morphine milligram equivalents (MME) per day, which increases the risk of overdose and death, declined by 31,527 individuals or an 18.6% decrease.

• From Q4 2016 to Q3 2017 Pain Reliever Doses declined from 129,797,789 to 77,729,833 which represents a 40.15% decline.

• Multiple provider episodes per 100,000 Virginia residents declined 45% between the 1st quarter of 2016 to 1st quarter of 2017.