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'We Care. We Check.' MDHHS and LARA encourage providers to use state prescription system through new videos

'We Care. We Check.' MDHHS and LARA encourage providers to use state prescription system through new videos

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 1, 2019

MDHHS CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112
LARA CONTACT: Jason Moon, 517-335-5272

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) are encouraging providers to use the Michigan Automated Prescription System (MAPS) to help protect Michiganders from opioid abuse and ensure patients get the proper care they need.

Two new videos released this week provide an overview of MAPS, how it assesses patient risk and helps prevent drug abuse at the prescriber, pharmacy and patient levels. Titled “We Care. We Check.” and “We Check MAPS,” the videos are targeted to providers and patients.

“An average of five people in Michigan die from an opioid overdose every day,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS chief medical executive and chief deputy director for health. “MAPS is simple for providers to use and it’s the right thing to do to ensure the safety of their patients. As physicians, it is our duty to understand what medications a patient is taking so we can best promote and protect their health.”

MAPS, which was completely replaced in April 2017, provides prescribers with a user-friendly portal, making it more efficient for practitioners to obtain information regarding Schedule 2-5 controlled substances that have been dispensed to patients. MAPS has nearly 70,000 registered users and the state saw its registration rate increase 134 percent between 2017 and 2019.

“MAPS has become an invaluable tool and has revolutionized drug monitoring in Michigan,” said LARA Director Orlene Hawks. “It provides insights for the clinician regarding their patients and through continued use and education, MAPS helps prescribers and dispensers to make informed decisions while ensuring the proper care and access to appropriate treatment and medication for Michigan patients.”

MAPS users include dentists, physicians (M.D. and D.O.), podiatrists, optometrists, veterinarians, physician’s assistants with practice agreements, advanced practice registered nurses under delegation and pharmacists. 

The MAPS system provides users with state-of-the-art tools, including:

  • NarxCare patient risk information.
  • Fast response time where record lookups are completed in seconds.
  • A dashboard that provides patient alerts, recent request history and the ability to maintain delegate user activity within the prescriber’s main account.   
  • Integration into clinical workflow for ease of access and use.

For more information about MAPS and to register, visit Michigan.gov/MiMapsInfo.

The state is using every available tool to combat the opioid epidemic. The collaborative efforts of state agencies amplify Michigan’s efforts related to prevention and treatment of patients, education of health professionals, and enforcement of overprescribers and over dispensers. Efforts include:

  • A new one-stop shop website (Michigan.gov/opioids) provides helpful information and resources on the epidemic.
  • Providing online resources for patients, health professionals, and communities about prevention and treatment of opioid abuse.
  • Ensuring the life-saving overdose reversal drug, Naloxone, is available to residents statewide through a standing order.
  • Michigan.gov/MiMapsInfo, which provides real-time prescription data and resources to better assess a patient’s risk for substance use disorder.
  • Assistance with proper drug disposal of unwanted medications.
  • Michigan State Police posts serving as drug take-back sites and providing the Angel Program for individuals struggling with addiction.

For more information about opioids and the additional steps residents can take to protect themselves and loved ones, visit Michigan.gov/opioids.

 

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