Expanding Access to State Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs
Key claim: The VA proposes to clarify who may query state prescription drug monitoring programs and to mandate VA disclosure of prescribing information to PDMPs to prevent misuse and diversion of controlled substances.
Abstract
(Proposed Rule · Veterans Affairs Department) The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to amend its regulation that governs disclosure of information to and querying of State prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs). The rule would clarify certain statutory definitions, including the definition of delegate and licensed health care provider. In doing so, VA would eliminate confusion as to who VA would allow to query the PDMP and would better protect these individuals from any possible adverse action by a State, as long as they are acting within the scope of their VA employment or, if applicable, scope of their contract. The rule would also mandate that VA disclose the specified information to State PDMPs to the extent necessary to prevent misuse and diversion of prescription medicines. This proposed rule would promote safe and effective prescribing of controlled substances to covered individuals and patients who receive VA health care.
Why this matters
PDMPs are the primary tool states use to detect controlled-substance misuse and doctor-shopping, but federal prescribers historically have not uniformly reported into or queried these systems. Clarifying VA authority to both access and disclose to state PDMPs closes a visibility gap for veterans who may receive prescriptions from both VA and non-VA prescribers, affecting how controlled-substance care is coordinated and monitored across systems.