It has been one year since Pennsylvania started a prescription drug monitoring program to help combat patients who ‘doctor shop.’
According to Acting Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine, the program has resulted in an 86 percent drop in the number of patients going to five or more prescribers and pharmacists to get prescriptions for opiates.
“We are making headway in reducing one of the primary causes of opioid dependency and potential addiction, which is over-prescribing,” Levine said.
Levine says the program requires doctors to check a state database whenever they prescribe an opioid or certain anti-anxiety medication.
Officials say one flaw is the difficulty determining how many doctors are in compliance.
