An important message from the WSVMA...
Concurrent with similar laws in other states, state law RCW 70.225 authorized the Washington State Department of Health to establish the Washington State Prescription Monitoring Program (WA PMP). The WSVMA has put together information to answer basic questions about the program and how it applies to veterinarians.
Practitioners in Washington that dispense Schedules II, III, IV, and V
controlled substances, including but not limited to, phenobarbital,
hydrocodone and buprenorphine, must electronically report on a weekly
basis to the WA PMP beginning October 7, 2011.
Reporting
requirements include weekly reporting for those who dispense Schedule
II, III, IV, or V controlled substances. Reporting is not required for
those practitioners or authorized persons who only administer a
controlled substance in their practice. A practitioner who never
dispenses controlled substances does not need to report. However, those
who dispense occasionally must still report weekly. A dispenser who
usually dispenses controlled substances but has no dispensing to report
for the preceding seven days must still file a weekly report.
Data
tracking begins October 1, 2011 with the first report due by October 7,
2011. Account set-up and testing begins September 14. Changes may be
required to how some veterinary practices track the dispensing of
controlled drugs. The first step, after reading through the Dispenser?s Implementation Guide,
will be to determine whether your veterinary practice management
software is capable of interfacing with WA PMP?s online reporting
system. Veterinary practices that don?t currently use veterinary
practice management software may find the new reporting requirements an
incentive to finally go paperless.
For more information on the WA PMP and how it relates to veterinary practices, consult WSVMA?s WA Prescription Monitoring Information for Veterinarians.
Member login is required to view some of this information.
Best Regards,
WSVMA Office
Washington State Veterinary Medical Association
8024 Bracken Place SE | Snoqualmie , WA 98065
P 425.396.3191 | F 425.396.3192
info@wsvma.org | www.wsvma.org
and visit: http://www.wapmp.org/
UPDATE 11-7-11:
At a special meeting on November 2, 2011, the Washington State
Veterinary Medical Association's Executive Board voted to advance
legislation that, if passed, will exempt veterinarians from reporting
the dispensing of Schedules II – V controlled drugs to Washington’s new
Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP).
The program, which went into effect the beginning of October, has
created a significant burden for veterinary clinics that dispense
controlled drugs. Weekly, electronic reporting to a system not set up to
receive veterinary patient/drug information has proven very difficult,
necessitating additional staff hours in order to comply with the
program. Many clinics report they have stopped dispensing altogether in
order to avoid the difficulty of reporting.
The PMP, passed into law in 2007, was aimed at pharmacies and
physicians to help mitigate an escalating problem of prescription drug
abuse among patients. Veterinarians, defined in law as dispensers, were
included in the program.
Once the legislation has been drafted and submitted to the Washington
State Legislature the WSVMA will notify you. The 2012 legislative
session will be a very difficult one for lawmakers as their concern for
budgetary issues could overshadow our efforts to pass legislation. Your
assistance in contacting legislators will be very important to the
outcome of this legislation. The WSVMA will provide talking points,
sample letters and links to find your legislators in order to help you
communicate with your senator and representatives.
Now more than ever, membership in WSVMA is important. A strong Association allows us to have a greater voice in Olympia. If you haven’t yet renewed your dues, or have not been a member, please join today. We can do far more as a group than any one person can do alone.
For information about how a contribution to WSVMA’s Political Action
Committee, WSVMA-PAC, can give us a greater boost with legislators,
contact the WSVMA office at (800) 399-7862.
PAC contributions can be made in conjunction with your membership dues.
Joining WSVMA-PAC will strengthen our voice with legislators for this
issue as well as others in the future.
Candace Joy
Executive Director
Washington State Veterinary Medical Association
8024 Bracken Place SE
Snoqualmie, WA 98065
(425) 396-3191 Phone
(425) 396-3192 Fax
candacejoy@wsvma.org
www.wsvma.org
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