In recent years, the focus on the opioid epidemic has significantly increased by federal and state governments after years of jaw-dropping statistics about opioid abuse. The HHS reported in 2016, on an average day in the U.S. there are:
- More than 650,000 opioid prescriptions dispensed
- 3,900 people initiate in nonmedical use of prescription opioids
- 580 people initiate heroin use
- 78 people die from an opioid-related overdose
These alarming statistics just skim the surface of the epidemic that has been affecting the United States for decades. The good news – there is a solution to help decrease these statistics and it has been implemented by many doctors and physicians offices already.
The Stage is Set
E-prescribing has made its mark in the Healthcare IT industry as a solution to fix this epidemic and help save lives. E-prescribing solutions allow prescribers to view a patient’s previous medical history and view either current or past medications. But let’s take it back to the beginning…
The first PMP was created in New York in 1918 with a similar structure that it has today – reporting a controlled substance to the PMP within 24 hrs of dispensing it. Even though New York had an early jump on the PMP, it wasn’t until 1939 that other states began implementing them as well. Today, the PDMP reports that 49 states have operational of PMPs and 35 of those states have collected scheduled II-V medication requests, while 16 others have collected scheduled II-IV. Although not all states require reporting of controlled substances to their PMPs, every state has legislation in place for PMP use that can be utilized.
To continue the positive development of electronic prescribing, in 2010 states began legalizing electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS) and by 2015, Vermont was the last state to allow pharmacies to accept EPCS. Now all 50 states have the ability to accept EPCS AND 49 of those states have some sort of operational PMP to report controlled substances too.
Next Step
What’s next to help fight this epidemic that seems to be spiraling out of control? States such as Minnesota, New York, and Maine have all mandated electronic prescribing of controlled substances, so it’s time for other states to continue to follow. E-prescribing solutions such as RXNT|e-prescribing are DEA and Surescripts certified to prescribe both controlled and noncontrolled substances and already have thousands of NY, MA, and MN prescribers using our solution to help meet their state’s mandate.
Get ahead of your state’s legislation and implement RXNT’s e-prescribing today. For more information, call us at 800-943-7968 Option 3, email us at [email protected] or click the “Learn More” button below and a product specialist will answer any questions you have!
