You are required to check new patients or after 180 days elapsed since PMP check for the patient prior to prescribing one of the following:  opiates, synthetic opiates, semi-synthetic opiates, benzodiazepine, or carisoprodol (exclusions for Hospice or end-of-life, or patients residing in nursing facility)

Physicians may designate a staff member to run the patient PMP on the physician’s behalf. This designated staff member must have their own PMP AWARxE account and have the physician listed as their supervisor.

If you are writing a prescription for opiates, synthetic opiates, semi-synthetic opiates, benzodiazepine, or carisoprodol at discharge from either event, you still need to check the PMP if it has been at least 180 days since you checked that patient.

By Oklahoma law (63 O.S. 2-309D), it is mandatory that providers check the PMP prior to prescribing and every 180 days prior to authorizing refills for opiates, synthetic opiates, semi-synthetic opiates, benzodiazepine, or carisoprodol (exclusions for hospice or end-of-life, or patients residing in nursing facility). This applies whether you write one or several thousand scripts per year.

Dispensing and writing prescriptions are two different activities. If you dispense from your office, you have to report Schedule II-V drugs to the PMP. If you have stopped dispensing, then you are probably writing the prescription and handing it to the patient to have it filled at a pharmacy. You are still required to check that patient in the PMP.

Not allowed. That is considered misuse of the PMP and could cause you to lose your access. The PMP can be used to prescreen potential new patients. Providers must have established a physician/patient relationship prior to checking the PMP.  Scheduling an appointment is considered establishing a physician/patient relationship.

The term “Doctor Shopping” is used generically to identify a person(s) who uses fraud, deception or exclusion to get controlled drugs for illegitimate use. A patient who fails to tell their doctor they are receiving controlled medication from another provider falls into this group. “Doctor Shoppers” are often addicted to the drugs they are seeking. In some cases, the get controlled drugs for the specific purpose to profit from them or provide them to others who are also addicted. They also represent every aspect of our society, both culturally and financially.