Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System

The Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System (OARRS) can help physicians improve patient care, reduce prescription abuse, and prescribe safely.

OARRS can help prescribers:
  • Provide better patient care
  • Identify patients with potential drug seeking behaviors
  • Ensure that the patient’s drug therapy is appropriate
  • Comply with “press pause” clinical guidelines at 80 morphine equivalent dose (MED)
  • Demonstrate the effectiveness of clinical guidelines making adoption of prescribing rules unnecessary.

House Bill 341 of the 130th Ohio General Assembly mandates the use of OARRS prior to prescribing an opioid analgesic or benzodiazepine. The law also includes OARRS registration requirements for both prescribers and pharmacists.

Since January 1, 2015, Ohio law has required that each prescriber who prescribes or personally furnishes opioid analgesics or benzodiazepines, as well as all pharmacists who dispense or plan to dispense controlled substances within the state of Ohio, to certify with their respective licensing board that they have registered for an OARRS account upon renewing their license.

Since March 20, 2015, Ohio law has permitted a prescriber or pharmacist to include an OARRS repor t as part of the patient’s medical record. Once included in the chart, the report is deemed part of the medical record and is subject to disclosure on the same terms and conditions as listed in section 3701.74 of the Revised Code.

On April 1, 2015, Ohio law established the following requirements for Ohio prescribers related to OARRS. Nn updated frequently asked questions document is also available.
  • Before initially prescribing or personally furnishing an opioid analgesic or a benzodiazepine to a patient, the prescriber must request patient information from OARRS that covers at least the previous 12 months.
  • The prescriber must also make periodic requests for patient information from OARRS if the course of treatment continues for more than 90 days. The requests must be made at intervals not exceeding 90 days, determined according to the date the initial request was made.
  • Under the circumstances described above, the prescriber is required to assess the OARRS information and document in the patient record that a patient prescription history report was received and assessed.

Biannual Verification of Account Details and Delegates

As of September 30, 2020, OARRS users will be prompted to update or confirm their PMP AWARxE Profile information on a biannual basis. The purpose of this verification requirement is to ensure all OARRS profile information is up-to-date and accurate.

Additionally, OARRS will also be requiring semi-annual confirmation of all linked delegates to protect the security of the patient data in the system. Emails to account holders indicating they have 45 days to complete this verification process were sent starting September 30, 2020.

Additional Information and Resources