NCJ Number
253034
Date Published
August 2018
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Information and data are presented for the Texas prescription drug monitoring program, named the Texas Prescription Program (TPP), which is administered by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.
Abstract
The email address for the TPP is provided, along with website addresses for its home page, enrollment, queries, and data upload. Contact information is provided for the TPP Director of Professional Services and the Manager. Data for 2017 cover the state population (28,704,330) , DEA registered prescribers (113,823), and DEA registered dispensers (5,680). TPP available reports are listed. For 2018, funding for the TPP came from the state's general fund. TPP staff numbers for 2018 cover the following job categories: operational (7), technical (0), analytical (1), and "other" (0). Key data in TPP's development are enabling legislation (January 1981), becoming operational (January 1982), initial user access (January 1982), on-line access (June 2012), and electronic reporting (2001). Source information is provided for state statutes and rules pertinent to the policies and procedures of the TPP. Reporting frequency is the next business day, even if no monitored drugs were prescribed or dispensed. Monitored drugs are controlled substances in schedules II, III, IV, and V. ARCOS data must also be reported. TPP has the authority to remove drugs from monitoring, but does not have the authority to add drugs for monitoring. TPP miscellaneous capabilities and policies are listed. Prescrirbers and dispensers are not required to enroll in TPP, but they are required to use it. Law enforcement agencies can query information on a patient's drug use only if there is already an active investigation of the patient. Patient information is purged every 3 years, with de-identified data retained. Training in TPP use is not required before use, but is available for prescribers, dispensers, and members of the regulatory board. TPP technological and report-production information is provided.