The state’s revamped prescription monitoring system, known as the Massachusetts Prescription Awareness Tool (MassPAT), contributed to a roughly 28-percent decline in opioid prescriptions in about two years, Gov. Charlie Baker’s office said Wednesday.
The MassPAT system went live in August 2016, as improved prescription monitoring to identify potential opioid abuse was one aspect of Baker’s response to the opioid crisis in Massachusetts. Since it launched, 6.5 million searches have been conducted, Baker’s office said.
With 28,764 physicians signed on, 97 percent of Massachusetts opioid prescribers are registered with MassPAT. Baker’s office said high participation and utilization have contributed to a roughly 28-percent decrease in opioid prescriptions between the first quarter of 2015 and the second quarter of 2017.
Baker’s office said other factors in the decrease include a seven-day prescription limit for opioids, and education initiatives to teach providers safe prescribing practices.
The MassPAT system is connected with systems in 31 other states, including all New England states, allowing providers to see when patients have accessed opioids outside of Massachusetts.
