Abstract: Washington State is impacted by the opioid crisis. State and federal resources are being marshalled towards a multi-pronged response, and in 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) funded a one year initiative to improve the access to state Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) data to reduce the harm of opioid use. The University of Washington contributes informatics expertise in three areas: assessing and supporting provider use of the PMP, improving the access of data by providers through the use of FHIR and other standards, and contributing to improvements in the usability and infrastructure of the state’s opioid dashboard system. Washington has dramatically improved PMP access among large providers in the last 5 years with the use of standards-based API query of the PMP via the state-wide HIE. Small and medium sized providers still have barriers to access. This panel will discuss how Washington is addressing this gap. The panel will explore the novel technologies and application of traditional technical assistance that have the potential to be disruptive in addressing the opioid crisis. They will conclude with a discussion of government policy, political pressure, societal forces, and financial and technical drivers that contribute to fixing this health informatics challenge.

Describe the new knowledge and additional skills the participant will gain after attending your presentation.: The learner should be able to describe barriers in automated access to PMP/PDMP dispensed medication data and potential methods for addressing to help in appropriate prescribing of opioids.

Authors:

Bryant Karras (Presenter)
Washington State Department of Health

Sasha De Leon (Presenter)
Washington State Department of Health

Bill Lober (Presenter)
University of Washington

Janet Baseman (Presenter)
University of Washington

Chris Baumgartner (Presenter)
Washington State Department of Health