DOH finalizes PMP-EHR hardship waiver rulemaking
Senate Bill 5380 requires PMP integration for some practices by Jan. 1, 2022 Senate Bill 5380, a measure aimed at addressing the opioid epidemic, was signed into law during the 2019 legislative session. Starting next year, a prescription monitoring program-electronic health record integration mandate for practices with 10 or more prescribers will go into effect. Originally scheduled to take effect this past January, the WSMA successfully advocated for a delay to Jan. 1, 2022 to prevent the associated administrative requirements from burdening organizations already strained by the pandemic. The WSMA secured a hardship waiver in the legislation for practices that are not able to comply with the mandate due to certain circumstances, including: • • • •
Economic hardship Technological limitations outside the control of the practice Other exceptional circumstances Unforeseen circumstances, such as widespread health care emergencies
The Washington State Department of Health recently finalized rulemaking around that process. The WSMA is waiting on a response from the DOH regarding when and how practices may submit hardship waivers, and will keep members apprised of developments.
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