March 07, 2012
The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs maintains an electronic system for monitoring controlled substances dispensed by all prescribers. The Michigan Automated Prescription System, or MAPS, is the prescription database for Schedule 2-5 controlled substances. LARA is permitted by statute to provide access to that data to prescribers and pharmacists, licensing boards of authorized prescribers and limited access to law enforcement officials.
House Bill 4369, sponsored by state Rep. Lesia Liss, allows LARA to provide that same limited level of access to health insurance carriers as currently provided to law enforcement. This enhances health providers' ability to ensure patient safety and identify individuals who are chronically misusing controlled substances.
"Michigan's public safety is threatened by the diversion of controlled substances from their legal, safe use to illegal use and distribution," Snyder said. "Prescription monitoring programs are effective tools to identify and prevent diversion of controlled substances at the prescriber, pharmacy and patient levels."
The bill now is Public Act 44 of 2012. More information is available at www.legislature.mi.gov.
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