Before you prescribe: Texas Prescription Monitoring Program

See related content “Opioids”

State law requires physicians to check the Texas Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) before prescribing opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or carisoprodol. (1)

“The review of the patient's PMP prescribing history must be completed prior to and each time a prescription is issued for opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or carisoprodol to the patient for:

(A) take-home use, upon leaving an outpatient setting such as doctor's office, or ambulatory surgical center; or

(B) upon discharge from an inpatient setting, such as a hospital admission or discharge from an emergency department visit.

(2) A mandatory PMP check is not required before or during an inpatient stay, such as a hospital admission, or during an outpatient encounter in settings, such as an emergency department or ambulatory surgical center visit.” (1)

PMP checks must be documented in the patient’s medical record.
Exceptions to the mandated PMP check include prescriptions for hospice care, cancer care, and treatment for sickle-cell disease. Another exception occurs if a prescriber tries to access the PMP, but cannot because of circumstances out of the prescriber’s control. Any exception needs to be documented in the patient’s record. (1)