Table 2 Summary of findings

Systems and tools to support patient management.

Lack of tools and staff support for tracking patients.

Inadequate tools for assessing patient fit with medication treatment options.

States adopt alert system as part of prescriber monitoring system for missed prescription refills.

Increase investment in developing decision-support tools for assessing the best treatment options for a patient.

Integration of behavioral health with prescribing.

Whether counseling should be required.

Inadequate communication between prescriber and counselor.

Timely access to psychiatrists.

Professional associations establish a policy that counseling should be encouraged but not required.

Treatment programs proactively secure patients’ permission for information exchange between prescriber and counselor.

States establish a web-based clearinghouse for psychiatry services.

Implications of patient volume for effective patient management.

Whether volume thresholds are useful.

State agencies offer guidance to prescribers on appropriate patient volume based on resource availability.

Role of telehealth.

Whether telehealth can fully replace in-person visits for prescriptions.

Professional associations recommend continuation of periodic in-person visits as part of the prescribing schedule.