In 2019, the Legislature passed Substitute Senate Bill 5380, updating Washington’s opioid prescribing laws. The measure encompassed several new directives, including the requirement for health care facilities, entities, offices, and provider groups with ten or more prescribers using a federally certified electronic health record (EHR) system to integrate with the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) by January 1, 2021.

On April 24, 2020, WSDA — along with several other health care provider associations — received a letter from Secretary of Health John Wiesman noting the unprecedented toll the COVID-19 pandemic has had on Washington’s health care system and granting a nine-month waiver from demonstrating EHR integration with the PMP. The nine-month waiver will expire on September 30, 2021. At that time, those subject to the integration requirement will need to be compliant with the mandate or have received another waiver issued by the Department of Health.

For more information about Washington’s opioid prescribing rules and how to comply, visit WSDA's Opioid Prescribing Resources page.