Puerto Rico Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

The Mental Health and Anti-Addiction Services Administration (MHAASA) of Puerto Rico is seeking BJA 21 Harold Rogers PDMP funding to expand on existing efforts to reduce demand, use and trafficking of controlled substances, including prescribed medications, building on existing initiatives. MHAASA currently has a PDMP project that will implement RxCheck, Clinical Alerts, Advanced Analytics and Prescriber Report Cards, and which has 3,973 users, primarily pharmacies. The proposed PDMP project will expand the number and type of system users in collaboration with professional medical and dental associations, universities, law enforcement and other forums. Objectives include: 1) developing and implementing T/TA for users by type, with deliverables of new T/TA curricula, signed attendance and pre-post tests of trainees and evaluation forms. 2) producing and disseminating PDMP modules for various audiences of users including guidelines for clinicians to optimize pain management and integrate the PDMP with their EHR, with deliverables of materials and registry of those receiving and using guidelines. 3) supporting legislation to make PDMP use compulsory for prescribers, and once approved, implementing requirements, with deliverables of regulations and a strategic plan that facilitates monitoring of use and imposing of fees and penalties for non-compliance that will help sustain the system. 4) improvement of PDMP data entry accuracy through additional data entry and Pharmacy Liaisons to provide coaching to reduce errors, with deliverables of monitoring comparative analysis reports, copies of guidelines developed and evaluation from pharmacists; and 5) completion of an epidemiological analysis of incidence and prevalence of prescriptions dispensed and medical and nonmedical uses of controlled substances in PR at statewide, regional and municipal level, with deliverables of study report and use for resulting actions for overusers’  linkage to care and the imposition of fees and penalties for overprescribing. The service area covers all of Puerto Rico. The full implementation of an improved PDMP benefits the PR Department of Health and MHAASA, as related state agencies directed to planning and implementing effective ways to protect the health and safety of the population. An enhanced PDMP will also benefit all pharmacies, prescribers, law enforcement agencies, university pre-service students, researchers, SA service providers and other current and potential PDMP users who will, through project efforts be trained to maximize PDMP use to identify persons misusing controlled substances to connect them to treatment, as needed, identify and intervene with over-prescribers to reduce misuse, control dispensing and potential diversion of controlled substances for illegal use.