To whom should a patient submit a request for access to prescription drug monitoring information?

A patient should submit a request for access to prescription drug monitoring information to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). This is because, in many states, the DHHS or a similar regulatory body is responsible for maintaining and overseeing the prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP). The PDMP is a database that collects information on prescriptions of controlled substances to help prevent misuse and abuse of these medications.

When patients want to access their prescription monitoring information, such as obtaining a history of their prescriptions or confirming their own prescribing and dispensing records, the procedure typically involves making a formal request to the DHHS. This ensures that patients receive information in a regulated manner consistent with privacy laws and the protocols established for accessing sensitive health data.

The other options, while relevant to a patient's care, do not have the authority or responsibility for managing PDMP data access requests. The prescribing pharmacist and the attending physician can provide information on prescriptions directly related to the patient, but they do not hold the complete monitoring data kept by the DHHS. Likewise, the local pharmacy board oversees the practice of pharmacy within a jurisdiction but does not handle individual patient requests for PDMP access.