Introducing PDMP Access for All

Choice Matters in Rural Healthcare

Even as federal Medicaid cuts strain budgets and healthcare staffing hits historic lows, clinicians are still legally required to check the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) before prescribing. The problem? Most integration tools are expensive, and the process of checking PDMP manually is time consuming.

That’s why Leap Orbit is launching PDMP Access for All: a 6-month, no-cost pilot for two hospitals in Kentucky and Illinois to try RxConnections, EMR-embedded PDMP integration.

Why Current Tools Don’t Fit Rural Realities

• Locked in: Most clinics are tied to a single PDMP vendor, with extra logins and wasted clicks.
• Kentucky: Nearly 1 in 3 residents (32%) rely on Medicaid, and prescribing rates remain high, at 58.3 opioid prescriptions per 100 people in 2023 vs. the U.S. average of 37.5 (CDC).
• Illinois: 89 of 102 counties are Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), meaning every extra step in the workflow strains limited staff capacity.

Aligned with National Rural Health Priorities

The launch of PDMP Access for All comes as new federal programs are being created to support rural health innovation. The recently authorized Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program (Section 71401 of Public Law 119-21) will invest $50 billion over five years to strengthen rural healthcare by improving access, quality, and sustainability.

The RHT Program’s strategic goals—improving chronic disease management, building sustainable access points, supporting workforce development, and fostering technology innovation—directly align with the goals of our pilot: giving rural providers tools that make mandated processes faster, easier, and more sustainable.

For example:

• Sustainable Access: RxConnections helps rural clinics meet state PDMP requirements without draining already limited staff resources.
• Workforce Development: By reducing clicks and saving time, clinicians can focus on care.
• Tech Innovation: Seamless EMR integration reflects the type of technology-driven solutions the RHT Program is designed to support.

As states prepare to apply for RHT funding (applications open mid-September 2025 and end November 5th), we see PDMP Access for All as a practical, on-the-ground example of how technology can meet both regulatory requirements and the day-to-day needs of rural clinicians.

About PDMP Access for All: RxConnections Rural Pilot Program

PDMP Access for All changes the game. For six months, two rural hospitals in Kentucky and Illinois can integrate PDMP checks into their EHR using RxConnections. The pilot provides access to RxConnections for no additional cost and without disrupting workflow. This pilot aims to provide optionality for PDMP integration and reduce the administrative burden on health systems that need it most.

• Highlights:
  
  • Duration: 6 months
  • Cost: $0 — fully subsidized by Leap Orbit
  • Eligibility:
    • Critical access hospitals (CAH) located in Kentucky or Illinois
    • Rural hospitals located in Kentucky or Illinois
    • Eligible facilities must be using a FHIR-capable EMR system
  • Goal: Provide access to PDMP integration for health systems that do not currently have it, and optionality to hospitals operating on tight margins.
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• Four total rural hospitals (two in Kentucky, two in Illinois) will receive:
  
  • EMR embedded PDMP access, no additional login required
  • Rich audit logs that can be archived locally and also shared with your state’s PDMP program
  • Robust, organized contextual information rather than opaque opioid risk score tools
  • Color-coded alerts for clinical decision making with actionable intelligence
  • Alternative for existing PDMP adherence workflow

Compliance shouldn’t be complicated. RxConnections through PDMP Access for All empowers clinics to meet legal requirements with tools that actually fit how they work.  

How to apply:

Visit leaporbit.com/pdmp-access-for-all to learn more and apply using our simple form.

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