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In 2008, Maximus implemented the first province-wide Drug Information System (DIS) in Canada to help provinces address limitations with their Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) system, a passive, state-run database that collects data from pharmacies about its dispensed medications. Similarly in the United States, PDMP data is outdated (up to 30 days old), includes only prescriptions dispensed within state lines, and only medications classified as controlled substances. As a result, healthcare providers and pharmacists lack the necessary information to prevent duplicate prescriptions, doctor shopping or dangerous drug interactions.   

The Maximus DIS offers a proven, software-enabled solution to help states proactively combat fraud, waste and abuse of prescription drugs. By effectively tying together a state’s existing PDMP system with all healthcare entities – pharmacies, physicians and hospitals – to electronic health records, the DIS gives healthcare providers real-time access to patient clinical data to enable them to make faster and better-informed clinical decisions and avoid prescribing mistakes. Pharmacies and prescribers have immediate access to vital patient data such as drug prescriptions, drug allergies and intolerances, medical conditions and previous adverse drug events.

Based on studies by Canada Health lnfoway, the Canada DIS programs are seeing the following benefits:

  • 52% reduction in fraudulent prescription abuse
  • 46% reduction in potential drug-interaction problems
  • 4.2 fraudulent prescribing transactions detected and prevented on average per week
  • 15% reduction in adverse drug events
  • 10% anticipated reduction in medication abuse
  • 62% reduction in hospital admissions and 45% reduction in visits to emergency clinics as a result to greater adherence to prescribed medication regimes