Information for Dispensers

The main goal with starting and maintaining the Prescription Monitoring Program is to provide a tool to health care professionals to prevent and detect prescription drug misuse. PMP data is available to you online.

Dispensers of controlled substances in Maine are required to submit their transactions to SAMHS's data management contractor, Health Information Designs (HID). Data must be submitted electronically by the 15th and 30th of each month. The data must be in ASAP 4.1 format for all transactions involving Schedule II-IV drugs in Maine.

Maine adheres to the DEA list of scheduled drugs and does not add to, or subtract from it.

SAMHS requests that dispensers provide the cleanest data possible. We ask for special care to be taken with the prescriber's DEA number. HID will do some data cleaning, but they are limited in their capacity to do so. Because the DEA number is an integral part of providing information to prescribers, it is especially important that the proper number is recorded in the system. If errors are found dispensers are required to correct them in a timely fashion.

PMP Online Database

SAMHS provides a web site to access Prescription Monitoring Program data. To obtain this data online, you must first register as a Data Requester.

Registration: To register with the PMP:

1. Print the Data Requester Registration Form.
2. Fill out the form, sign it and then mail the original to SAMHS at the address on the form.

If you have questions about the registration process, please call SAMHS as (207) 287-2595.

Once your registration is approved, you will receive separate email messages with your user name and temporary password.

Using Reports

SAMHS is aware that Patient History Reports could create tough decisions for pharmacists dealing with customers who appear to be involved with questionable activity.

By state law [32 MRSA § 13795 (2)], a pharmacist may exercise discretion and refuse to fill any prescription or dispense any drug if he or she is unsatisfied as to the legitimacy or appropriateness of any prescription presented.

SAMHS does not presume to tell dispensing pharmacies what to do with PMP data. Pharmacists should use their best professional judgment on each case as it presents itself. Please contact prescribers connected to the customer if it could be helpful. The objective is to identify possible problems, get people the treatment they need, and curb the illicit use of prescription drugs.

Confidentiality:

Be assured that SAMHS and HID carefully protect patient confidentiality. Access to the data is limited to registered users.

HIPAA:

Because SAMHS is a "health oversight agency" under HIPAA and the data submission is mandated by legislation, pharmacies do not need to use a patient release form or notify their patients that information is being released (see 45 CFR Section 164.512). However, pharmacies are not prevented from adding text about this release of information to their release of information forms.

Questions?

We want to create a good working relationship with prescribers and dispensers as they use this system to provide better care to the people of this state and address the problem of prescription drug misuse. Please feel free to contact us at SAMHS with your questions and concerns (207-287-2595). Also, HID staff members are available to answer any questions about the web portal, log-in, or data submission at 866-792-3149 or mepmp-info@hidinc.com.