Legislation allowing Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) to have access to the information in Pennsylvania’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) was signed by Gov. Wolf this week after passage by both the House and Senate. Senate Bill 432 is premised on the hope that by providing MCOs access to the program, the commonwealth will be able to better identify potential prescription drug abuse among individuals enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program. The legislation also requires an MCO to notify the state Attorney General’s Office if they suspect a drug is being prescribed fraudulently and bars counties and municipalities from creating their own PDMPs. Pennsylvania’s PDMP, created in 2014, documents all filled prescriptions for controlled substances to ensure healthcare providers can safely prescribe drugs and stay on top of potentially misuse or addiction.
