Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Health Care & Wellness Committee |
HB 2501
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Facilitating access to the prescription monitoring program.
Sponsors: Representatives Caldier, Slatter, Cody, Harris, Jinkins, Eslick and Tharinger.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/19/18
Staff: Chris Blake (786-7392).
Background:
Federally-Certified Health Record Technologies.
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology administers a program of voluntary health information technology testing and certification. Under the program, authorized testing laboratories and certification bodies review electronic health record technologies submitted by developers to determine compliance with certification criteria. Certification criteria relate to capabilities regarding the recording, security, and interoperable sharing of health information.
In 2011 the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services established an incentive program to encourage certain health care providers and hospitals to adopt and use certified electronic health record technologies to achieve health system objectives.
Prescription Monitoring Program.
Since 2011 the Department of Health (Department) has maintained, through a contractor, a prescription monitoring program (PMP) to monitor the prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances and other drugs that demonstrate a potential for abuse. Each time one of these drugs is dispensed, the dispenser must electronically submit information to the program about the patient, the drug, the dispenser, and the prescriber. Health care providers who are authorized to prescribe or dispense a controlled substance or legend drug are not required to query the program prior to issuing a prescription for a controlled substance.
To access information in the program, a provider must log into a web portal, search for a patient’s name, select from the possible matches, and then review the patient’s prescriptions. In 2013 the Department began work to electronically connect the program to the Emergency Department Information Exchange and the Epic electronic health record system. In 2015 the Department worked with its contractor, the state's Health Information Exchange, and the Epic electronic health record system to develop a module to allow Epic users to connect and input program data directly into the patient record.
Summary of Bill:
By January 1, 2020, the prescription monitoring program (PMP) must be integrated with all federally-certified health record technologies. The Department of Health, or its contractor, must provide technical assistance to health care providers and health care facilities attempting to connect to the PMP. The technical assistance may be provided through community meetings and seminars, outreach to professional associations, telephonic or electronic consultation, and other methods.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.