NABP PMP InterConnect Is the Answer to White House Call for National Interoperability of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs

Providing interoperability and data sharing among state prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs), the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy’s® (NABP’s®) interstate data hub, NABP PMP InterConnect® positions the 45 states that are currently participating to support “President Donald J. Trump’s Initiative to Stop Opioid Abuse and Reduce Drug Supply and Demand.”

On Monday, March 19, 2018, the White House announced its plan to reduce demand and overprescribing of opioids, in part by leveraging federal funding to support states using a nationally interoperable PDMP network. PMP InterConnect, operational since 2011, now has 45 participating state PDMPs exchanging interstate data. The program currently processes over 17.8 million requests and 39 million responses per month.

PMP InterConnect provides a highly secure network for participating state PDMPs to share data across state lines, enabling authorized users to access more comprehensive data for appropriate prescribing and dispensing of prescription controlled substances.

Just a few days prior to the White House announcement, on March 13, 2018, NABP convened a Congressional briefing and presented details about the history, success, and future of PMP InterConnect to approximately 30 staff members from United States Senate offices and committees. In addition, details on how the program enhances efforts to combat drug diversion, abuse, and addiction were discussed. The March 13 briefing, “Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs – Scaling Up: One-Click Access. Expanding the Next Generation of Technology to All Providers,” was presented by Danna Droz, JD, RPh, prescription monitoring program senior manager at NABP; Ralph A. Orr, program director of Virginia’s Prescription Monitoring Program; and Jeffrey D. Forman, MD, FCCP, MHCDS, chief medical officer, population health, of Bayview Physicians Group.

The briefing allowed for a robust discussion around the future of PDMPs, as well as their role in promoting appropriate care and saving lives from the misuse, abuse, and diversion of controlled substances.

“We remain committed to advancing best practices for PDMPs in the interest of public health. PDMPs remain a vital item in the toolkit health care providers, including pharmacists, use to improve opioid prescribing and clinical practice. Our end goal is to save lives and improve patient care,” said NABP President Jeanne D. Waggener, RPh, DPh. “We’re encouraged by the level of interest, engagement, and commitment from Congress and look forward to working together to promote evidence-based policy aimed at saving lives.”

During the briefing, NABP encouraged attendees to be cognizant of the existing framework provided by state-run, interoperable PDMPs, which provide point-of-care access to PDMP information through electronic health records and pharmacy management systems, as they continue to evaluate how best to improve upon such existing infrastructure. The value of the existing network is evidenced by the 380 facilities in 33 states that have enabled this point-of-care, one-click access for health care providers. Additionally, eight states – Arizona, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia – have provided or have committed to provide one-click access for every prescriber and pharmacist in the state.

PMP InterConnect is offered free of charge for participating states. For more information about the PMP InterConnect program, please visit www.nabp.pharmacy/PMP.

NABP is the independent, international, and impartial Association that assists its state member boards and jurisdictions for the purpose of protecting the public health.