Comment from American Academy of Family Physicians on VA-2026-VHA-0166-0001
American Academy of Family PhysiciansSupportTrade association
Summary: The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) supports the proposed rule to improve access to State Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) to enhance patient safety and care coordination. They request specific clarifications to ensure that providing delegates with PDMP access does not inadvertently expand their prescribing authority or modify existing professional scopes of practice.
On behalf of the American Academy of Family Physicians, representing 124,500 family physicians and medical students across the country, I write in response to the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Expanding Access to State Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) notice of proposed rulemaking. We appreciate VA’s efforts to improve patient safety, reduce diversion of controlled substances, strengthen PDMP utilization, and advance health information interoperability, and we believe this proposed rule’s focus on improved access to clinically relevant prescribing information can enhance care coordination and support safe prescribing practices for veterans.