NABP Continues to Fund PMP InterConnect Participation Supporting States' Momentum in the Fight Against Prescription Drug Abuse

MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill., June 23, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy^® (NABP^®), recognizing the importance of prescription monitoring programs (PMPs) and other state efforts to fight against prescription drug abuse and diversion, recently approved continued funding to support participation in NABP PMP InterConnect^® at no cost to the state PMPs through June 2018.

"Continuing to support the states and assist them in their efforts to tackle this complex public health issue is not only logical, but provides a crucial resource for combating prescription drug abuse and diversion," says NABP President Edward G. McGinley, MBA, RPh. "With nearly 30 states now live and successfully sharing secure prescription drug data with one another, we are continuing to support efforts to supply millions of health care providers with critical tools for their prescribing and dispensing decisions. While some suggest that a national PMP is needed, the Association and its member boards continue to see the benefits of the state-based PMPs and how the success of PMP InterConnect has enhanced their effectiveness."

By successfully facilitating the secure sharing of interstate PMP data, PMP InterConnect enhances the benefits of state PMPs by providing health care providers with access to a more complete record of a patient's controlled substance medication history. More comprehensive data can assist health care providers in identifying patients who may be misusing controlled substances or struggling with abuse, especially those patients that cross state lines to obtain multiple controlled substance medications.

PMP InterConnect is also unique in its ability to facilitate the integration of interstate PMP data directly into health care providers' workflow, including electronic health records and pharmacy management systems. Such workflow integrations make it easier for providers to access interstate PMP data and potentially increase the rate of use of the data.

NABP anticipates that 70% of the state PMPs will be either connected to or working toward a connection in 2015. Currently, 29 states are participating in PMP InterConnect, with Iowa being the latest state to go live in May 2015. Several other states have signed memorandums of understanding to participate in the program.

Launched in 2011, PMP InterConnect was developed by NABP to facilitate national interoperability and interstate data sharing between state PMPs by providing a highly secure communications exchange platform for participating states. Importantly, the system does not house any data and ensures that states retain control of their data and that each state's data access rules are enforced. Since launching, PMP InterConnect has processed more than 14 million requests from authorized users, and PMP InterConnect is now processing an average of over 1 million requests per month for a consolidated multistate PMP report.

Additional information about PMP InterConnect, including the most up-to-date information about state participation is available in the Programs section of the NABP website at www.nabp.net.

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

SOURCE National Association of Boards of Pharmacy

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