The American Society for Automation in Pharmacy (ASAP) has announced a new version of its widely used standard for prescription-monitoring programs (PMPs). While the latest version follows the design and syntax of the 2005 ASAP standard, it has been enhanced to allow for more precise reporting of controlled substances and other drugs required by state reporting programs.

Twenty-five states currently have PMPs, and 10 states are in the legislative process to implement a PMP. The ASAP standard has facilitated the implementation of these programs over the years.

The latest version contains four core-reporting segments to capture information on the patient; the actual prescription dispensed, including payment type; information on the prescriber; and the details of a compound where an ingredient is a reportable drug.

Data looping has been added where more than one reportable drug is dispensed to a patient, and the standard can now support real-time reporting as well as batch file transmissions.

The standard also allows for the identification of prescriptions dispensed for animals.

There are more detailed instructions on the correct use of segments and data elements and more consistency in the use of code values. The examples on how to structure a transaction have been improved, and several examples are included on how to report prescriptions with decimal quantities.

“This latest version of the ASAP standard represents a number of improvements over the 2005 version, which should allow prescription-monitoring programs to be more effective in reducing fraud and abuse of these drugs,” notes ASAP President Ken Whittemore.

Participants in the ASAP workgroup included representatives from several states with active PMPs, as well as system vendors and pharmacy stakeholders. The latest version is available to state PMPs and boards of pharmacy at no charge. ASAP also gained the cooperation of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) in getting word to its members on the availability of the new standard.

The standard can be ordered by going to asapnet.org or by calling 610/825-7783.