Wednesday, March 12, 2025
3/12/2025
The Maryland Department of Health proposes to implement the “Preventing Prescription Drug Misuse in Maryland” initiative, an infrastructure development and prescription drug misuse prevention project funded by 2021 SPF-Rx. The initiative will support targeted prescriber and pharmacist education on safe controlled substance (CS) prescribing and dispensing with a specific focus on identifying and preventing prescription drug misuse among youth and young adults. After updating the 2016 SPF-Rx Strategic Plan, prevention activities will be implemented across the state and targeted outreach will occur to providers in jurisdictions which demonstrate concerning prescribing and opioid misuse trends including Maryland’s Eastern Shore counties (Kent, Queen Anne’s, Dorchester) and mid-size counties (Cecil, Washington, Allegany, Calvert, Carroll) disproportionately impacted by CS prescribing and hospitalizations. The Office of Provider Engagement and Regulation (OPER) plans to reach an average of 200 providers a year, and at least 1,000 providers by the end of the grant through the following goals and objectives: Goal 1: Increase healthcare providers’ capacity to identify and prevent prescription drug misuse among youth and young adults by implementing evidence-based provider education programs Objective 1.1: By the end of year 5, Academic Detailers will complete 300 visits with providers on evidence-based detailing curriculum addressing use of the PDMP and safe opioid prescribing Objective 1.2: By the end of year 3, the state Medical Society in partnership with the School of Pharmacy will have trained 400 providers within the training series on care coordination and effective communication when prescribing and dispensing CS Goal 2: Reduce unsafe or inappropriate CS prescribing and dispensing by providers with clinically appropriate trainings and tailored resources Objective 2.1: By the end of year 5, the Project Advisory Council will convene 3 provider specialties to develop data-driven resources on safe CS prescribing practices Objective 2.2: By the end of year 5, opioid prescribing to youth and young adults will decrease by 10% within the jurisdictions implementing Academic Detailing by educating Primary Care Providers and pediatricians on the risks of overprescribing to those patients Goal 3: Reduce prescription opioid related overdoses by ensuring Maryland providers offer patients education on safe storage and disposal of unused medications Objective 3.1: By the end of year 5, the PDMP will disseminate safe storage and disposal of CS prescription materials for providers to offer patients to 1,000 Maryland providers and dispensers through Academic Detailing and the Provider-Pharmacist training series With the support of this grant opportunity, OPER will engage prescriber specialties in targeted peer-developed outreach and education, coordinate educational efforts between pharmacists and prescribers, and develop and evaluate community-specific educational efforts to prevent the misuse of CS and to encourage disposal of unused prescription drugs.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).