MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. — The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) will continue to fund access by state prescription monitoring programs to interstate data from its PMP InterConnect program. State PMPs will be able to participate in the program at no cost through June 2018.

“Continuing to support the states and assist them in their efforts to tackle this complex public health issue is not only logical, but provides a crucial resource for combating prescription drug abuse and diversion,” said NABP President Edward McGinley. “With nearly 30 states now live and successfully sharing secure prescription drug data with one another, we are continuing to support efforts to supply millions of health care providers with critical tools for their prescribing and dispensing decisions. While some suggest that a national PMP is needed, the association and its member boards continue to see the benefits of the state-based PMPs and how the success of PMP InterConnect has enhanced their effectiveness.”

The NABP launched PMP InterConnect in 2011 to facilitate interstate data sharing between state PMPs by providing a highly secure communications exchange platform for participating states. According to the association, the system does not house any data and ensures that states retain control of their data and that each state’s data access rules are enforced.

By successfully facilitating the secure sharing of interstate PMP data, PMP InterConnect enhances the benefits of state PMPs by providing health care providers with access to a more complete record of a patient’s controlled substance medication history. That information can help health care providers identify patients who may be misusing controlled substances or struggling with abuse — and particularly those patients who cross state lines to obtain multiple controlled substance medications.

PMP InterConnect is also unique in its ability to facilitate the integration of interstate PMP data directly into health care providers’ workflow, the NABP said, including electronic health records and pharmacy management systems. Such workflow integrations make it easier for providers to access interstate PMP data and potentially increase the rate of use of the data.

The NABP expects that 70% of the state PMPs will be either connected to or working toward a connection by year end. Currently, 29 states are participating in PMP InterConnect. Iowa, which went live in May, is the latest state to join the program, and several other states have signed memorandums of understanding to participate in the program.