Colorado Prescription Drug Monitoring Program - Privacy

[Guest guest]

For those in Colorado, the Colorado Prescription Drug Monitoring Program is up and running.

I believe someone on the list mentioned it was in the works.

Looks pretty powerful and useful -- can look up by DOB, name, etc.

Also, shows all the Rx's written by a doctor for controlled substances.

I know other states are implementing these -- any issues with privacy, HIPAA, etc?

Seems awful powerful and open to abuse.

The site has the normal disclaimers of not looking at non-patient info, but will be interesting to see how that works out.

I've already looked up several of my chronic pain patients -- they seem to be filling Rx's only from me -- which is good.

Having a libertarian streak in me, I do have some concerns about how encompassing the database is and personal privacy issues.

Thoughts?

Locke, MD

https://www.coloradopdmp.org/

DATA REQUESTERS CAN NOW REGISTER 2/4/2008

Data Requester's are now able to register with the Colorado PDMP

OUT OF STATE PHARMACIES CAN NOW REGISTER 11/16/2007

Out of State Pharmacies (OSP's) are now able to register with the Colorado PDMP.

Introduction

The State of Colorado recently enacted legislation to create a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) to track the prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances. The goal of the program is to provide information to both Prescribers (Physicians, Dentists, Optometrists, etc.) and Pharmacists to assist them in the proper treatment of their patients. GHS Data Management has been contracted to create and maintain the PDMP for the State.

Title 12, Article 22, Part 7 of the Colorado Revised Statutes requires the electronic monitoring of Schedule II, III, IV and V prescription drugs. Beginning on July 1, 2007, the Prescription Drug Monitoring System (PDMP) will provide a platform for the State to track controlled substances and expedite the flow of information about controlled substance prescription drug use.

All pharmacies within the State of Colorado that dispense schedule II-V substances will be required to report information regarding the dispensing of such drugs. Information may either be submitted to the provider of this service through a secure file transfer or individually entered through a secured website.

This project will be implemented in two phases. The first phase is to establish the data collection procedures and begin collecting the data. The second phase of the project will be to enable both prescribers and pharmacists to query the data for patients they are considering prescribing controlled substances to or dispensing them for.

Registration

Prior to submitting data to the Prescription Drug Monitoring System, each pharmacy must register their pharmacy or pharmacies with the system. This registration process will be handled electronically. Beginning July 17th, pharmacies may register here. Pharmacy specific information will be required to register with the system. Once the pharmacy or pharmacies have been registered, they will then be able to submit data to the Prescription Drug Monitoring System.

Please visit this page for complete registration information.