Ohio to upgrade RX drug-monitoring database

Ohio officials announced this week that the state will commit up to $1.5 million to upgrade a prescription drug monitoring system so that pharmacies across the state will be more able to check for possible opioid addiction issues and abuse (Source: “Ohio to bolster computer tracking system to better monitor opioids, curb abuse,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, Oct. 27, 2015). 

The money will be used to improve the Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System so that pharmacies will be able to more quickly check patient electronic medical records and opiate prescription histories. The instant checking system is expected to bolster use of the data base.

The state is closely monitoring opioid use, in particular, because abuse of the highly addictive prescription painkillers has been identified as one link to heroin addiction. Between new prescribing guidelines for chronic pain implemented in October 2013 and efforts to bolster use of OARRS, the number of prescriber and pharmacist queries using the data system increased from 778,000 in 2010 to 9.3 million in 2014.