Inslee signs bill increasing access to narcotic-prescription data for medical providers

[TexasTowelie]

Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday signed into law a bill that makes it easier for medical providers and systems to use data from the state’s Prescription Monitoring Program, aiming to reduce inappropriate prescribing of painkillers.

It’s something medical providers statewide have been asking for over the past few years, as the existing framework of the monitoring program limits their ability to compare prescribing habits to others in their field and adjust accordingly.

House Bill 1427 also compels the state’s various disciplining authorities (the Medical Quality Assurance Commission for doctors, for example) to adopt rules establishing opioid prescribing requirements, with a deadline of Jan. 1, 2019.

The new law also creates an “overdose feedback” system, in which the state will now alert a patient’s physician if that patient overdoses and is taken to the emergency room in another part of the state.

Read more: http://www.columbian.com/news/2017/may/17/inslee-signs-bill-increasing-access-to-narcotic-prescription-data-for-medical-providers/#

[Aristus]

1. I hope this makes it easier for providers to register with the Prescription Monitoring Program.

I registered with the program a couple of years ago, and it is insanely complicated to get up and running with a user ID and everything.

The reason, obviously, is information security. But still, it took much longer than it should have.

I don't need to use it that often, because my patients know better than to ask for Percocet or something for chronic back pain. I prescribe the usual non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxers as appropriate, combined with physical therapy, therapeutic massage, orthopedic consult, etc. If they stomp out of the exam room with: "Fine! I just won't take anything at all!", I know they're trying to shake me down.

[TexasTowelie]

2. That does it!

I shouldn't have ruined your day off with a work-related thread.

Let's hope that the new upgrades make it a more useful system.