Monitoring system can help stop abuse

Allowing doctors and pharmacists to monitor Ohio’s prescription-monitoring system to double-check whether patients were prescribed controlled substances in the five bordering states, and some not so close, is another key tool in fighting the state’s deadl

Of course, having this system in place won’t get anywhere close to stopping all abuse of prescription drugs, but it won’t hurt either.

According to a July 4 report from The Associated Press, the Board of Pharmacy says the Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System, also known as OARRS, now connects with a similar program in Pennsylvania. The system already was connected to Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and West Virginia and states as far away as Massachusetts or New Mexico.

Actually, users of the reporting system can request patient information from more than 20 states.

The system streamlines how providers access prescription information to help prevent misuse of painkillers and other drugs.

Use of OARRS is growing as it is integrated into more pharmacy and health care records systems. It reached a new high in June with 365,000 patient reports requested in one day.

According to the OARRS website, since it was established in 2006, it has collected information on all outpatient prescriptions for controlled substances dispensed by Ohio-licensed pharmacies and personally furnished by licensed prescribers in Ohio.

Drug wholesalers also are required to submit information on all controlled substances sold to an Ohio licensed pharmacy or prescriber.

What’s amiable about this is the data is reported every 24 hours and is maintained in a secure database.

OARRS also serves multiple functions, including: patient care tool; drug epidemic early warning system; and drug diversion and insurance fraud investigative tool.

As the only statewide electronic database that stores all controlled substance dispensing and personal furnishing information, OARRS helps prescribers and pharmacists avoid potentially life-threatening drug interactions.

It also tries to prevent a practice commonly known as “doctor shopping,” by identifying a person attempting to commit fraud by obtaining controlled substances from multiple health care providers.

Even professional licensing boards can use the system to identify or investigate clinicians with patterns of inappropriate prescribing and dispensing, and to assist law enforcement in cases of controlled substance diversion.

Some may question the accuracy of the database.

OARRS says the report displays data entered by the dispensing pharmacy or prescriber. Thus, the report should only be used to supplement a patient evaluation and aid in the professional judgment made by the prescriber or pharmacist.

The system also is designed to stop abusers who believe they can travel to a neighboring state to get prescription drugs.

Because OARRS currently is linked to other states via PMP InterConnect, prescribers and pharmacists may request data from other states.

Another component that is welcomed is that Ohio law requires prescribers to request and review an OARRS report before initially prescribing or personally furnishing an opioid analgesic or a benzodiazepine.

Also, Ohio’s health care regulatory boards have adopted regulations on when an OARRS report must be requested.

All Ohio licensed pharmacies, even if located outside of Ohio — such as mail order — are required to report daily the dispensing of all Schedule II through V controlled substances to the OARRS database.

Prescribers who personally furnish controlled substance medications in the office for take-home use also must report that information to the database.

And it doesn’t take long to get an OARRS Prescription History Report.

After logging into the website and entering the patient search criteria, it should only take a few seconds to view a report.

On May 29, the AP reported the American Medical Association has listed Ohio as the top state when it comes to monitoring prescription drugs.

In a recent fact sheet, the Medical Association said Ohio processed more than 24 million queries from doctors and other health professionals through the Automated Rx Reporting System.

The OARRS system is not a cure-all, but something has to be done to lower the deaths associated with opioids.

This system should help.