Question about US doctor-prescription database

 I've been trying to figure out this info for some time, but can not find any articles on it...

So now the majority of the US has the prescription and doctor database for each person that doctors can look at to see what you have been prescribed, well does anyone know how far back they can look? Can the doctor see what I was prescribed 10 years ago?

I haven' been to a doctor in many years due to insurance and was wanting to start seeing one but am curious if my super old alprazolam scripts will make them look at me weirder than they already will be.

Thanks

 I'd like to know the answer to this as well. It seems like in my state there was a 7 year hold that goes along with your records. But I'm not sure if that is separate from the database detail on rx's.

@Meowtown they go back at least  to 2012. There are companies that offer these services to Docs. Get on a patient portal if you can. Under meds you'll see ALL YOU have been prescribed including antibiotics etc. Wouldn't worry about 10 yrs. but call the APHA...American pharmaceutical association and just ask. Call a pharmacist it's easier and just ask. Good luck. Remember it's all YOUR medical info and it belongs to you! 

The hold doesn't apply to whats in the database - the database goes back 6months- 1 year depending on each states PMP laws. Note that the interconnect PMP service makes it so you can't go to another state that is a member since they will see as well

@Meowtown 

I know when my pharmacy got suspicious of me changing to new one, and contacted my doctor. So that got them to look at CURES (CA system) and when the notified me, they had gone back 1 year. I would think they would go back further if they could, as I have been the docs patient for years, so I figured thats as far back as they could see. I also looked in my chart (since I work at medical center where my records are) and saw the documentation and they wrote the notes for what I got over the past year. Again, I would think they would have charted on it if they could see further. I can't say for sure if it is only 1 year, but thats what I'm thinking. I would ask a pharmacy what they can see as it's the same as the MD. I tried to access the CURES site, but couldn't as a patient.

Meowtown said:

 I've been trying to figure out this info for some time, but can not find any articles on it...

So now the majority of the US has the prescription and doctor database for each person that doctors can look at to see what you have been prescribed, well does anyone know how far back they can look? Can the doctor see what I was prescribed 10 years ago?

I haven' been to a doctor in many years due to insurance and was wanting to start seeing one but am curious if my super old alprazolam scripts will make them look at me weirder than they already will be.

Thanks

Click to expand...

Take a look at the link below. Here in MN every time a controlled substance prescription is filled it is entered into a database called the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP).

https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/faq/rx_monitor.htm

In a nutshell:


"According to the Alliance of States with Prescription Monitoring Programs, (www.pmpalliance.org) as of October 16, 2011, 37 states have operational PDMPs that have the capacity to receive and distribute controlled substance prescription information to authorized users. States with operational programs include:

Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Eleven states (Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin) and one U.S. territory (Guam), have enacted legislation to establish a PDMP, but are not fully operational."

@SleepyMonkey I see where the link is and I will read it, but I really believe it’s up to the pharmacist....I went to gov facility had a Rx filled and that night crossed state line around 930pm cause pharm closed @ 10pm, had absolute no prob with same type of med. maybe got lucky because it was same day fill and hadn’t posted yet. Plus, both states are listed on the portal program. Idk ???

It is up to the pharmacist . The pharmacist didn’t look you up in the database.

@Meowtown 4 years

@SleepyMonkey Hello! I own medical clinics, the PDMP works like this. The doctor reviews this prior to prescribing and it goes back 4 years, and only shows scheduled medications in some states, and all medications in others (non scheduled) 

Some states do not synk between PDMP databases (Prescirption drug monitoring system) at all.  I hope this helps, and this is variable a bit by state. 

Here is a map of States that are able to share data regarding prescriptions. It'll soon be all States.

View attachment PMP Interconnect Map.pdf

Kendall said:

@SleepyMonkey Hello! I own medical clinics, the PDMP works like this. The doctor reviews this prior to prescribing and it goes back 4 years, and only shows scheduled medications in some states, and all medications in others (non scheduled) 

Some states do not synk between PDMP databases (Prescirption drug monitoring system) at all.  I hope this helps, and this is variable a bit by state. 

Click to expand...

Interesting information. Thank you for sharing this!!

Meowtown said:

 I've been trying to figure out this info for some time, but can not find any articles on it...

So now the majority of the US has the prescription and doctor database for each person that doctors can look at to see what you have been prescribed, well does anyone know how far back they can look? Can the doctor see what I was prescribed 10 years ago?

I haven' been to a doctor in many years due to insurance and was wanting to start seeing one but am curious if my super old alprazolam scripts will make them look at me weirder than they already will be.

Thanks

Click to expand...

I was also wondering this as my current medications are almost the same as mine 20 years ago, just had a break in between for a few years. Thanks!

When my sub doctor looked because the local pharmacy was acting fishy. he did not mention antibiotics or Norcos I was prescribed for a broken bone in the ER.  If it seems reasonable and you can explain it, at least my doc didn't say a thing about it .  That pharmacy, crap, one time I left the prescriptions there to be filled because they weren't due yet and they were "lost."   Then they were magically found.  Another time they filled one and said I didn't bring in the Trams.  I for sure did bring in the Trams and they were ready to be fillled.   This is what I was talking to the doc about so he was looking up the space between prescriptions.  Anyway, watch your pharmacies very closely.  I feel like there's some shady stuff going on.

Propublica prescriber checkup