e-Profile Login and ID Quick Search
New Mexico News: Prescription Monitoring Program Notes
Published in the September 2007 New Mexico Board of Pharmacy Newsletter
The prescription monitoring program is growing as more pharmacies and practitioners utilize the system. Do not forget all pharmacies and practitioners who prescribe controlled substances (CS) can request patient reports through the system. Currently the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy averages processing 40-50 requests daily and has provided up to 90 on some days.
During our processing of requests we have noticed some items of which pharmacies need to be aware.
- Some pharmacies enter “dummy” Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) numbers for the prescriber of a CS prescription. Intentionally entering incorrect DEA information into a pharmacy computer system is a violation of federal regulations and could result in assessment of fines.
- Practitioners receiving patient reports have expressed concerns to the Board when a prescription is refilled at the same pharmacy several times within a few days. For example: hydrocodone #120 dispensed and refilled four times within five days. These patients invariably pay cash for these prescriptions. Pharmacists are required to do a prospective drug review (including over or under utilization) prior to dispensing a new or refill prescription. Pharmacists should not expect third-party point of sale systems in the computer to do this review for them.
-
Many patients with prescription insurance, including Medicaid, will get all their prescriptions filled at one pharmacy, billed to the third party, but insist on paying cash for all CS prescriptions. If a patient can afford $800 a month for a CS prescription, do they really qualify for Medicaid to pay for all their other medications? Why do they not use their insurance if they have it? Many of these patients are doctor-shoppers or prescription forgers who know their insurance will not pay for additional prescriptions of drugs already billed.
