Reminder: Mandatory PMP verification to prescribe and dispense certain controlled substances

Attention: All Providers Effective Date: August 18, 2020 Providers should monitor the Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) Provider Portal regularly for alerts and updates associated to the COVID-19 event.  TCHP reserves the right to update and/or change this information without prior notice due to the evolving nature of the COVID-19 event.Call to action: This is a reminder that as of March 1, 2020, pharmacists and prescribers have been required to check the patient’s Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) history before prescribing or dispensing opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or carisoprodol (Soma). This is a mandatory requirement per Texas House Bill 3284. The PMP is used to collect and monitor controlled substance prescription history for Texas patients. The tool helps prescribers and pharmacists analyze real-time controlled substance data and patient risk scores, and help make decisions on potential drug abuse or misuse. State regulatory boards have access, and PDMP data is shared with law enforcement, state agencies, and other states for analysis. Next steps for providers: Prescribers and pharmacists are responsible for checking the PMP to help eliminate duplicate and overprescribing of controlled substances. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action and penalties from the state. PMP access can be granted at: https://texas.pmpaware.net/loginIf you have any questions, please email Provider Network Management at: providerrelations@texaschildrens.org.For access to all provider alerts,log into: www.thecheckup.org or www.texaschildrenshealthplan.org/for-providers