Michigan Launches Updated Rx Drug Monitoring Program
Announced April 11, the new Michigan Automated Prescription System (MAPS) uses Appriss Health's PMP AWARxE and replaces an older MAPS platform.
Michigan this week launched a new Michigan Automated Prescription System (MAPS) using Appriss Health's PMP AWARxE. The new system replaces the old MAPS "and puts Michigan at the forefront of prescription drug monitoring technology," according to the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, known as LARA. The department's Bureau of Professional Licensing administers the MAPS portal.
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder formed the Michigan Prescription Drug and Opioid Abuse Task Force in June 2015, and a key recommendation from the task force was to update and replace the old MAPS platform. "Replacing the outdated MAPS is central in our fight against the opioid epidemic that has been so tragic for Michigan families," said Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, who chaired the task force. "The modern system gives prescribers and dispensers state-of-the-art tools to make more informed decisions, intervene earlier and spend additional time with patients and customers."
LARA's announced said the new portal gives prescribers in Michigan a user-friendly portal, making it more efficient for practitioners to obtain information of controlled substances and Schedule 2-5 drugs that have been dispensed. (Prescribers include dentists, physicians (MD, DO), physician assistants, podiatrists, optometrists, veterinarians and advanced practice registered nurses under delegation.)
"The successful and timely launch of the new MAPS was a direct result of the collaborative efforts between the state of Michigan, legislators, and the medical community," LARA Director Shelly Edgerton said. "We're hopeful prescribers and practitioners from across the state will utilize this powerful system to effectively measure a patient's potential danger in abusing these addictive drugs."
A $2.47 million appropriation from the state legislature gave LARA the opportunity to begin replacing the old system in 2016, and a subsequent $2.02 million appropriation covers ongoing maintenance and support of the new system. LARA completed a six-month implementation as of April 4, 2017.
Louisville, Ky.-based Appriss Health also announced April 11 that pharmacies in Kroger's Michigan stores have fully integrated the Michigan Automated Prescription System data and advanced analytics into their workflow.
"We are proud to partner with the state of Michigan on this system that will provide practitioners with a widespread exchange of information and advanced analytics to efficiently identify patient drug abuse," said Rob Cohen, president of Appriss Health.