Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program (ILPMP) has announced that medical residents in Illinois can now access the ILPMP database directly. This move comes as a change from previous requirements, which limited direct access to those with individual controlled substance licenses.

Previously, medical residents were unable to register for the ILPMP without their own Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) number. The new policy allows them to use the hospital’s DEA number along with a unique four-digit code assigned to each resident. There is no need for dashes or spaces between the hospital's DEA number and the four-digit post-fix. Additionally, since residents are not required to have an Illinois controlled substance license number, they may leave that field blank during registration.

The ILPMP enables healthcare professionals to review a patient’s prescription history from the past 12 months, which supports clinical decision-making. The database also includes information such as medical cannabis card status, naloxone dispensed by retail pharmacies, and Opioid Treatment Program data if patients have given consent.

A one-page guide on how to register for a free account is available through the ILPMP website. Residents with questions are encouraged to contact either the ILPMP or the ISMS Health Policy Research and Advocacy team via email.