Texas Prescription Monitoring Program Integration Funding The Texas Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) is used to collect and monitor prescription data for all Schedule II, III, IV, and V Controlled Substances dispensed by a pharmacy in Texas or to a Texas resident from a pharmacy located in another state. The PMP also provides a database for monitoring patient prescription history for practitioners and the ordering of Schedule II Texas Official Prescription Forms. As of March 2020, prescribers have been required to check a patient’s PMP history before dispensing or prescribing opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or carisoprodol. The reporting requirement applies to all Schedule II, III, IV, and V controlled substances. Currently, prescribers are encouraged to check the PMP to help eliminate duplicate and overprescribing of controlled substances, as well as to obtain critical controlled substance history information. In addition to the existing PMP functionality, NarxCare, an advanced analytics and patient support tool enhancement to the PMP, will aggregate and analyze prescription information from providers and pharmacies and present visual, interactive information, as well as advanced analytic insights, machine learning risk scores and more to help physicians, pharmacists and care teams to provide better patient safety and outcomes. NarxCare also provides tools and resources that support patients’ needs and connects them to treatment, when appropriate. Bamboo Health’s PMP Gateway solution helps healthcare providers integrate the PMP data and NarxCare analysis into approved Electronic Health Records (EHRs). This integration eliminates the need for prescribers to navigate to the Texas PMP website, log in, and enter their patient’s information. This workflow helps save 4.2 minutes per patient encounter and supports providers in meeting mandatory use laws associated with the PMP. With this enhancement, healthcare providers will have access to all features and functions of NarxCare with a consistent look and feel for users who access the solution through the PMP web portal. The Texas State Board of Pharmacy has announced statewide support to help healthcare providers by funding the licensing fees associated with the integration service for those providers that elect to connect their EHR to PMP Gateway effective September 1, 2023. If your organization is interested in integrating your EHR with the state PMP, authorized decision makers should submit an integration request by creating an account on Bamboo Health’s Customer Connect Portal. Additional information about the Texas Prescription Monitoring Program Statewide Integration can be found on the Texas State Board of Pharmacy Texas Prescription Monitoring Program website.
Certification of Medical Condition and Mental Status for Guardianship Proceedings The medical condition and mental state of a person proposed for guardianship must be considered by the courts in a guardianship proceeding. Historically, only a licensed physician was eligible to complete a physician’s certificate of evaluation for the individual who was proposed for guardianship. Effective September 1, 2023, APRNs are now authorized to examine a person to determine whether that person is incapacitated for the purpose of guardianship proceedings. The Texas Estates Code permits judges to consider a letter or certificate of evaluation from an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRNs) as part of a guardianship proceeding. As noted in Section 1101.1011 of the Estates Code, physician delegation is required for an APRN to provide this service. Additionally, the Estates Code requires that both the APRN and their delegating physician sign the letter or certificate regarding a proposed ward’s incapacity that is based on an examination by the APRN. The letter or certificate of evaluation must include all elements required by Texas law. APRNs who choose to provide this service should review Chapters 1101, 1102, and 1202 of the Estates Code to be certain the information they provide complies with these requirements.
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