June 25, 2021

Health Care Authority Finalizes Prescription Monitoring Program Rule

The Washington State Health Care Authority has finalized a rulemaking that implements federal prescription drug monitoring program requirements per Section 5042 of the SUPPORT Act.

Starting Oct. 1, 2021, physicians must check an Apple Health (Medicaid) client's history in the state's prescription monitoring program before prescribing controlled substances. Physicians may delegate this task to anyone at the practice with authorization to access the PMP, so long as the physician reviews all of the client's prescriptions. The date and time of the retrieval and review of information must be documented in the patient record.

Outpatient pharmacists will be required to review the PMP before dispensing a controlled substance.