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NarxCare is an algorithm used across several US states to track prescriptions for drugs such as opioids and purports to identify and flag patients with ‘drug-shopping’ behaviours - people purportedly prone to narcotic, sedative and stimulant abuse, and who might be lying to doctors about the pain they’re in in order to get opioids.
Developed by Bamboo Health (formerly named Appriss), NarxCare combs through the multi-state Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) database, and uses machine learning to generate an "Overdose Risk Score" from 000-999 that potentially includes emergency medical services and criminal justice data. The score is available to pharmacists, doctors, and hospitals.
The algorithm takes into consideration factors including: the number of doctors that have prescribed the medication to the person, the amount of medication they’re taking, the number of pharmacies the person goes to fill out their prescription, and other factors such as overlapping prescriptions and medication deemed likely to worsen or increase the risk of abuse or misuse.
NarxCare 🔗
Operator: US Department of Justice; Rite Aid; Walmart; Sam's Club
Developer: Bamboo Health/Appriss
Country: USA
Sector: Health
Purpose: Assess and predict drug abuse
Technology: Risk assessment algorithm; Machine learning
Issue: Accuracy/reliability; Bias/discrimination - race, gender
Bamboo Health does not disclose how the NarxCare system works, and does not provide access to its data, model or code
The company has made a number of contradictory claims about the algorithm's data sources and other inputs
NarxCare scores have been criticised by researchers and patient advocates for potentially treating women and minority groups unfairly
Page info
Type: System
Published: June 2024