Florida Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Data Retention Period
The Florida Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) retains information in its database for 4 years, after which the data is purged from the system. 1
Overview of Florida's PDMP
Florida's PDMP, known as E-FORCSE (Electronic-Florida Online Reporting of Controlled Substance Evaluation), is a statewide electronic database that collects and stores prescribing and dispensing data for controlled substances. Like other state PDMPs, it serves several key functions:
- Identifying patients who engage in "doctor shopping" (obtaining multiple prescriptions from different providers)
- Monitoring potential diversion of controlled substances
- Providing information about prescribing trends for surveillance purposes 1
Data Collection and Management
What Information is Tracked
- Schedule II-V controlled substance prescriptions
- Does not include Schedule I substances (as these are not legally prescribed)
- Varies in inclusion of medications administered in inpatient hospital settings 1
Access and Utilization
- As of 2016, only 31% of DEA-licensed physicians and 57% of pharmacists in Florida were registered with the PDMP 2
- Among registered users, pharmacists showed a higher utilization rate (52.2%) compared to physicians (30.1%) 2
- Physicians who frequently use the system (25+ searches) overwhelmingly agree (98.4%) that it is a useful tool 3
Impact of Florida's PDMP
Florida's implementation of its PDMP in September 2011 has shown some positive outcomes:
- Significant reduction in prescription opioid-related fatal vehicle crashes (approximately 25% reduction) in the 22 months following implementation 4
- 69.4% of frequent PDMP users reported prescribing fewer controlled substances after accessing the database 3
- 72.5% of users with access believed that "doctor shopping" would decrease due to the PDMP 3
Limitations of the System
Despite its benefits, Florida's PDMP faces several challenges:
- Limited interstate data sharing capabilities, with only 22 of 49 PDMPs sharing information across state lines as of 2018 1
- No automatic alerts to physicians when their medical license is associated with a controlled substance prescription 1
- Lack of standardization with other state programs 1
- Limited registration and utilization among eligible healthcare providers 2
Best Practices for Clinicians
When using Florida's PDMP:
- Review PDMP data before prescribing controlled substances to new patients
- Check the database periodically for long-term therapy patients (every 3 months is recommended by most experts) 5
- Be aware that data older than 4 years will not be available due to the purging policy
- Use the information to identify potential doctor shopping or dangerous medication combinations 5
- Remember that the database serves as one tool among many for clinical decision-making
Conclusion
Understanding the 4-year data retention period of Florida's PDMP is important for healthcare providers to properly interpret the absence of older prescription records. This knowledge helps providers make more informed decisions about controlled substance prescribing while recognizing the limitations of the system.