Understanding and evaluating the performance of PMPs is among the COE's most important functions. How are PMPs contributing now in the fight against prescription drug abuse? How can PMP data best be used to identify and deter prescription drug diversion, assist medical providers in clinical decision-making, monitor prescribing trends, and serve other essential functions? What sorts of operations and outputs can increase PMP effectiveness? Answers to these questions can help make the case for PMPs as a valuable resource in public health and drug control.

Evidence for PMP Effectiveness

PMPs are proving themselves an effective tool in deterring prescription fraud and doctor shopping, two of the main sources of diverted pharmaceuticals. PMP data are also widely used by medical providers to improve clinical decision-making, helping to keep patients safe from addiction and overdose. States without PMPs are at a disadvantage in responding to the prescription drug abuse epidemic. For details, read the Center of Excellence’s Briefing on PMP Effectiveness and see the links on the Effectiveness page.

Evaluating PMPs

Evaluations of PMPs shed light on their usefulness, impact and current limitations, pointing the way toward improvments and innovations. Please see the Evaluation page for links to studies and surveys.

Toward the Next Generation of PMPs

PMPs have untapped potential in the fight against prescription drug abuse. The prospective benefits of expanding PMP operations in coordination with new public health initiatives are outlined in testimony presented by COE director John Eadie for a U.S. Senate committee hearing on the prescription drug abuse epidemic, see Toward the Next Generation of PMPs.

Individual states are doing cutting edge work to make PMPs more effective and efficient. A recent example is Oklahoma's real time data collection initiative, which makes prescription data available within 5 minutes after drugs are dispensed. See the slide presentation on how this initiative was planned and executed. Our thanks to Don Vogt, administrator of the Oklahoma PMP, for making this presentation available.