How often must the department determine the mean and median prescription quantities for opiates?

The requirement for the department to determine the mean and median prescription quantities for opiates is set to occur annually. This annual assessment is crucial for monitoring prescribing trends, identifying potential abuse or overprescribing, and ensuring that prescribing practices align with current standards of care. By conducting this analysis on a yearly basis, the department can gather comprehensive data that reflects changes in prescribing patterns over time and address any emerging public health concerns related to opioid use.

Other timeframes, such as biannually, quarterly, or monthly, would potentially provide more frequent data updates but may not be necessary given the nature of prescription trends which tend to develop over longer periods. The decision to keep the assessment on an annual basis balances the need for relevant and actionable data with the logistical considerations of gathering and analyzing prescription data.