Washington spearheads comprehensive prescription monitoring program

Olympia, Wash.

— Washington state lawmakers launched a new comprehensive prescription reporting program for most controlled substances last month.

The state’s prescription monitoring program, which applies to veterinarians, is calling for the electronic reporting of dispensing information for schedule II, III, IV and V controlled substances.

Submission of the prescribing information would be required no later than one week from the date of dispensing, state officials say.

The new program calls for: Name of the client for whom the prescription is ordered including first name, middle initial, last name and generational suffixes, date of birth; address; gender; drug dispensed; date of dispensing; quantity and days supply dispensed; refill information; prescriber identifier; prescription issued date; dispenser identifier; prescription fill date and number; source of payment.Pharmacies must also include the name of the person who picked up the prescription, along with photo verification of their identity.

Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies will have access to the program data. Practitioners and pharmacists will have secure 24/7 access for reviewing patient prescription histories.

”This helps determine appropriate medical treatment and referral needs,” state officials say.

The new program began data collection on October 7, and follows two public hearings on the new rules this summer.