Bulletin: Addressing opioid use, including PMP/EHR integration

WSHA has released a bulletin on new requirements on opioid and controlled substance prescribing. The bulletin sets out new deadlines for important changes related to prescribing practices. In particular, the requirements for integration of the state’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PMP) with electronic health records (EHR) and the electronic prescription of certain controlled substances is now effective September 30, 2021. The integration mandate does not apply to critical access hospitals. There is also a requirement for dispensers to submit information to the PMP “as soon as readily available but no later than one business day from the date of distribution,” which is effective January 1, 2021. While these changes do not go into effect until 2021, hospitals will need to plan ahead to comply with these mandates. The bulletin also discusses a new law allowing certain pharmacies to add remote dispensing sites to their existing license to facilitate treatment for opioid use disorder.