Dear Physician Colleagues,

As current president of the Nebraska Medical Association, I am reaching out to you to highlight the importance of Nebraska’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) and ask that you take the simple steps necessary to participate.

As of January 1, 2018, Nebraska’s PDMP contains all dispensed prescription drugs (controlled and non-controlled prescription drugs). This provides prescribers with an opportunity to view all dispensed medications for a patient and serve as a comprehensive medication reconciliation tool.

Registering for the PDMP takes only three simple steps:

1. Complete the PDMP Access Request Form online at http://dhhs.ne.gov/publichealth/PDMP/Pages/GetAccess.aspx.
2. Complete the PDMP training requirement (approximately 20 minutes) located at http://dhhs.ne.gov/publichealth/PDMP/Pages/PDMPTraining.aspx. Completion of the acknowledgement at the end of the training is required to “successfully complete” the training requirement.
3. Complete the registration by setting up a user name and password. Instruction and a link to the Nebraska PDMP portal will be emailed directly to you once you have successfully completed your registration form and training requirement.

Please note: After you complete the registration you may designate licensed health care providers (i.e., nurses of all levels) under the Uniform Credentialing Act to access the PDMP on your behalf.  Prescribers can register designees utilizing the same online PDMP user access form located at http://dhhs.ne.gov/publichealth/PDMP/Pages/GetAccess.aspx. 

Best practice is to utilize the PDMP when treating all patients and before prescribing any medications. This allows health care providers an opportunity to view the patient’s medication history and have a conversation with the patient about safe treatment options.

Other important items to consider:

• The PDMP is free for all healthcare providers licensed to prescribe medications.
• The PDMP is directly linked to the Nebraska Pain Management Guidance Document through patient alerts. The patient alerts appear when a patient has meet a certain criteria such as a daily Morphine Milligram Equivalent over 50. The alert provides details about the criteria and includes direct links to the pain management guidance document to serve as a resource when treating the patient.
• The Nebraska PDMP has 100 percent participation by all community-based pharmacies and more than 85 percent of mail service pharmacies that meet reporting requirements.
• The PDMP enhancements have been developed in coordination with practicing clinicians.The primary focus of the PDMP enhancements is to improve the work flow for the PDMP users so that it takes minimal time to search and view a patient’s medication history. The State is currently working on seven enhancements that will improve work flow and provide comprehensive information.

• There is nothing punitive and no exposure risk with regards to the PDMP.

If you have any questions about the program, you can call Amy Reynoldson, Prescription Drug Overdose Prevention Coordinator at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, 402-471-0835.

With the primary purpose of the PDMP being patient safety, I hope that I can count on you to participate in this important endeavor.

Rob Rhodes, MD
President
Nebraska Medical Association