What is PDMP?
A Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) is an electronic database that tracks controlled substance prescriptions in a state. PDMPs can provide health authorities timely information about prescribing and patient behaviors that contribute to the epidemic and facilitate a nimble and targeted response (Source: CDC). Learn more.
What is Bamboo Health?
Bamboo Health acts as a clearinghouse for PDMP access into EHRs for states with their own PDMP and develops PDMP databases for other states. The main benefit is that Bamboo Health handles the integration of the state database with EHRs to save providers time.
What is the advantage of using Bamboo Health?
You no longer need to leave the system to query the state database.
Why is the Bamboo Health integration important?
Currently, providers are required to check PDMP databases to prescribe Schedule 2 medications, specifically opioids. The lack of an integration causes providers to leave our software and look this information up in a separate software. The integration saves providers time and lead to a better provider experience.
Is there a cost for this integration?
We are not charging for this integration, however, Bamboo Health does charge the provider if they are in a non-funded state.
- Funded states: Some states sponsor the integration at no cost to the provider.
- Non-funded states: The provider must directly contract with Bamboo Health.
PMP Gateway
PMP Gateway is the main benefit of the integration so we suggest providers sign up for this at minimum.
NarxCare Score
NarxCare Score is an added benefit, but not necessary to purchase.
What do I need to consider when setting up an account with Bamboo Health?
User Setup
- Administration: User Maintenance: To use the PDMP Report module, prescribers must select their User Role. The User Role is only for PDMP setup and does not affect any other setups or workflows.
- Administration: Provider Maintenance:
- The user must be a prescriber with a DEA license to access the module. Prescribers must select the Provider is also a Prescriber check box.
- Make sure that the NPI, DEA Number, and License State/Number that you use when registering for PDMP is the same as what you entered in Administration: Provider Maintenance.
Practice Setup
- The practice must complete the registration form to start the process and receive the username and password from Bamboo Health. The username and password are practice-specific.
- Providers in funded states register at the Customer Connect portal.
- Providers in non-funded states register on the PDMP Integration Request website. For Primary EHR Software, select NextGen Office (formerly MediTouch/HealthFusion).
- For more registration information, refer to PDMP Registration with Bamboo Health.
- Administration: Locations: Location in use must have a valid location NPI. Users must enter the NPI for the location in Administration: Locations.
- Administration: PDMP Vendor Credentials Management: Enter the username and password provided by Bamboo Health. The username and password is validated upon save.
What if I do not have a location NPI for all of my prescribing locations or my location address is outdated?
Bamboo Health requires that you have a location NPI for reporting purposes at your state PMP. You must register or update your locations with the NPPES NPI Registry. Upon receiving your new or updated location NPI, add the NPI to Administration: Locations.
If you need help updating your credentials, our credentialing team can assist for a fee of $150 per location. To learn more about our credentialing services, contact your Sales representative.
What happens when I complete the registration form?
Clients in Funded States
- Upon receipt of your completed application, Bamboo Health submits your request to the state for final approval. Upon state approval (approximately 2-4 weeks), credentials and a confirmation email are sent to your practice’s primary contact listed at the time of the registration request.
Clients in Non-funded States
- A link appears at the top of the screen for the you to register for a product demo held by Bamboo Health. These meetings occur every Wednesday at 1:00 PM ET. You will also receive an email about the product demo.
- You can let Bamboo Health know that you want the PMP Gateway report and skip the demo.
- Once contracting has been completed, Bamboo Health submits your request to the state for final approval. Upon state approval (approximately 2-4 weeks), credentials and a confirmation email are sent to your practice’s primary contact listed at the time of the registration request.
What if my credentials are not working?
All credential issues must first be resolved with Bamboo Health. If your credentials are not working on the Administration: PDMP Vendor Credentials Management page, you must submit a support ticket to Bamboo Health.
What if I accidentally selected NextGen Enterprise as my EMR software vendor?
You were set up for NextGen Enterprise if the following information was mentioned in your secure email with your username and password:
Your credentials for PMP Gateway are below.
Please refer to the ePrescribing Guide for NextGen Ambulatory EHR (page 107) for setup instructions or open a NextGen case for further assistance with setup or questions. Facility must be on 5.9 or higher.
Production Endpoint URL: https://pmpgateway.net/v5/patient
Production username: xxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx
Production password: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
If "version 5.9 or higher" is mentioned in your email, this means that your account was accidentally set up for NextGen Enterprise. When you submit a support ticket to Bamboo Health, confirm that your account is set up for NextGen Office. Bamboo Health will be able to adjust your set up and you will be able to use the same credentials in NextGen Office after it has been adjusted by Bamboo Health.
What if I am in a border town with another state?
You can get access to another state's database if Bamboo Health supports that state. If you are in a funded state and are using the Customer Connect platform, you can sign up for all of the states at the same time in the Facility Locations field.
What do I get with the Bamboo Health connection?
- Every state Bamboo Health works with sponsors the PDMP report.
- Depending on the state, they may get the NarxCare score. The NarxCare score takes the patient's medication history and determines the liability of overdosing or identifies potential abusers.
- If supported in the state and the state does not fund NarxCare score, you can choose to add on this feature.
- You can ask Bamboo Health about NarxCare.
After setup is complete, how does the feature work?
When the prescriber with valid credentials lands in Medication List, we send a request to Bamboo Health for the NarxCare scores and PDMP report.
- The prescriber MUST have the correct location (with NPI) in context from the top toolbar in EHR.
- It may take 5–7 seconds, on average, to get a response.
- It can take up to 30 seconds depending on the state.
- If not needed, the prescriber can continue with their normal workflow.
- Selecting the report opens it in a new tab. The user must enable pop-ups.
- We populate the PDMP Report module on-screen.
- The PDMP report always opens (unless Bamboo Health returns an error).
- The NarxCare score appears if active in the state and the provider has it enabled.
- You can ask Bamboo Health about availability for your practice.
- If we receive an error response from Bamboo Health, the appropriate message appears explaining the nature of the error.
What is the purpose of the I have queried and reviewed the state PDMP report link?
- Click the I have queried and reviewed the state PDMP report link if you want to attest that you have viewed a PDMP report outside of NextGen Office. You can view the report directly from the state's PDMP website.
- The following system actions occur upon click:
- Automatically date and timestamp. This is for tracking the optional MIPS Promoting Interoperability bonus measure Query of Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP).
- We add a message under the Prescribe section of the encounter summary stating that a PDMP was queried for this patient.
- Note: These same actions occur if you click View Bamboo Report or View LogiCoy Report.
Can I import the drug history to the patient's chart?
At this time, Bamboo Health does not allow us to import the drug history.
Why can't my staff members who are not prescribers view the PDMP report?
Bamboo Health only allows prescribers to see the report. Bamboo Health has chosen to force all EHRs integrated with their software to follow the rules of the strictest states. This is why we have the new User Role feature and why only prescribers can view the report.
How often do prescribers need to view the report?
The module shows every time, however, prescribers should refer to their state requirements regarding the required frequency.
Is this available in other places besides Medication List, Medication History, and Prescribe?
We currently only support these workflows.
Is my Social Security number sent to Bamboo Health?
Kentucky requires the patient's SSN and address be sent in the PMP Gateway queries.
Do I need to update my password every 90 days similar to our state access to our PDMP?
Only clients in Massachusetts must update their password in NextGen Office every 90 days. Massachusetts clients are informed by their state and Bamboo Health when a password update is required. All other clients do not need to update their password in NextGen Office. The password is for the practice's lifetime as of now.
Does NextGen Office's credentialing process meet federal, state, and local requirements to ensure that only authorized users have access to PDMP data?
NextGen Office worked with Bamboo Health to meet the requirements for PDMP access. The system only allows providers with prescribing rights access the PDMP reports. The prescribers are also required to have a user role defining their specific role in the office. This access is only available for the specific username of the authorized prescriber. Each user has individual access. The locations require a location NPI to ensure reporting of access can be specific to the location the provider is rendering services. These requirements were dictated by Bamboo Health, the third-party vendor enabling access to the state PDMP.
Is NextGen Office aware of the state restrictions around access to PDMP data by specific roles? What are the role-based access controls to ensure that only appropriate users have access to the PDMP data? Do the role-based access controls conform to the restrictions placed on such data by the states in which NextGen Office operates?
Yes, we are aware of the role-based access control restrictions by the state. We are required to send the location NPI to the PDMP to allow limited access to the report. The report is only available for users who are providers, have prescribing access of Prescriber or Prescriber with Supervisor, and one of the following user roles:
- Dentist
- Medical Intern
- Medical Resident
- Naturopathic Physician
- Nurse Practitioner
- Optometrist
- Pharmacist
- Physician
- Physician Assistant
- Psychologist
Does NextGen Office track user login attempts and use of the system? How are the logs maintained?
Yes. We keep track of login attempts, the IP address, and the local time zone of the attempts. The account is disabled after three failed attempts and must be reenabled by a super user. Super users are generally managed by an office administrator or the account owner.
