Oklahoma PDMP Data Request

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Oklahoma Open Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

To Whom it May Concern,

Northeastern University’s School of Social Justice and Health Equity is interested in the state’s prescription monitoring program, the Oklahoma Prescription Monitoring Program. Specifically, we want to learn more about law enforcement access to the database, the use of an algorithm that produces a risk assessment score to analyze its contents, and the data access and retention rules governing the system. We understand the algorithm was produced by the corporation Appriss Health.

In order to permit the public to understand how the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics is using the Oklahoma Prescription Monitoring Program and how it impacts public health and civil liberties in Oklahoma, Northeastern University’s Health in Justice Action Lab is making this request under the Oklahoma Open Records Act, 51 §24A.1 et seq., for the following records:

1. Any and all records reflecting an agreement for purchase, acquisition, or licensing of, or permission to use, test, or evaluate Appriss’s systems or services, including any product or service offered;

2. Any and all memoranda of understanding between the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and any outside entity regarding the Oklahoma Prescription Monitoring Program.

3. Any and all records including information about the algorithm that determines risk scores in the Oklahoma Prescription Monitoring Program, including but not limited to its source code, developer documentation, and operator manuals (e.g. NarxScores, Overdose Risk Scores);

4. Any and all research, technical reports, or internal audits that define and/or evaluate the Oklahoma Prescription Monitoring Program effectiveness or performance;

5. Any and all research, technical reports, or internal audits that evaluate the Appriss risk assessment tool’s effectiveness or performance

6. Any document containing a full list of the data fields in the Oklahoma Prescription Monitoring Program;

7. Any and all records of de-identified red flag algorithm outputs (e.g. provider red flag, pharmacy red flag, 40 MED red flag) and patient behavioral red flags (e.g., anxious patient demeanor, distance between prescriber and dispenser) with prescriber/dispenser training documentation on how to address the red flags;

8. Any record showing the number of patients in the Oklahoma Prescription Monitoring Program by quarter and year (2006-present);

9. Any record showing the number of prescribers and pharmacists in the Oklahoma Prescription Monitoring Program by quarter and year (2006-present);

10. Any and all records containing Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics analysis of whether and/or how the Oklahoma Prescription Monitoring Program has impacted public health in Oklahoma (e.g. decrease or increase in overdose rates, “doctor shopping,” prescribing volume, etc.) over time;

11. Any and all records 2006-present of notification to law enforcement about information in the Oklahoma Prescription Monitoring Program Medical Review Group or other channels, including but not limited to how many times law enforcement agencies have been notified about information in the Oklahoma Prescription Monitoring Program, and which agencies have been notified;

12. Any and all internal policy, memoranda, and/or training documentation describing how entities outside of Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, including law enforcement, may obtain access to information in the Oklahoma Prescription Monitoring Program, including but not limited to the rules, regulations, and procedures of the Medical Review Group;

13. The legal authorization for sharing Oklahoma Prescription Monitoring Program information with the law enforcement entities; and

14. Any and all records showing how often law enforcement entities or individuals have requested information or records from the Oklahoma Prescription Monitoring Program, or made electronic queries of the system, including but not limited to what types of information or records have been requested, which agencies have made the requests, the percent of requests that were accepted versus denied, temporal trends, the form of the request (e.g. subpoena, warrant, etc.), and whether the requests were granted or denied.

Because this request involves a matter of public concern and because it is made on behalf of a nonprofit organization, we ask that you waive any fees. If you decide not to waive fees, we request that you permit us to examine, at our election, the responsive documents before deciding which portions to transmit. We prefer the documents in electronic format.
Should you determine that some portion of the documents requested are exempt from disclosure, please release any reasonably segregable portions that are not exempt. In addition, please note the applicable statutory exemption and explain why it applies to the redacted portions. As you know, a custodian of public records shall comply with a request within 10 days after receipt.

Thank you for your assistance. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,
Sarah Seymour

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days.

Sincerely,

Sarah Seymour

Hi Mark,

Thank you and looking forward to hearing from your department in regards to our request.

Best,

HIJ Action Lab

Hi Mark,

Thank you for reaching out, letting us know and assisting us overall on this request. Looking forward to hearing from you in the future.

Best,

Sarah Seymour
HIJ Action Lab

Hi Mark,

It's alright. Thank you for your assistance with this request!

Best,

Sarah Seymour

Hi Mark,

I just wanted to follow-up on this FOIA request. Let me know where y'all are at when you get a chance. Thank you!

Best,

Sarah Seymour

Hi Mark,

Great! Thank you for your help.

Best,

Sarah Seymour

Hi Mark,

Hope you're doing well. I'm sure y'alls department is functioning at a lower capacity. However, if you can provide any information on where this request is in the process it would greatly appreciated. Thanks again!

Best,

Sarah Seymour