Prescribing Controlled Substances
There is not one EMR or other e-RX product that can prescribe controlled substances or will do this in the near future. In regard to this, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) recently issued an article titled "Implementation of DEA CS e-Prescribing Rule Prompts Boards to Offer Licensees Guidance" in their December 2010 NABP newsletter. This article reviews the rule, offers guidance, gives an overview on State regulations, and discusses how the implementation will impact e-Rx trends.
A portion of the article stated: “Since new Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulations for controlled substance e-prescribing took effect June 1, 2010, state boards of pharmacy are offering guidance to licensees regarding DEA e-prescribing software requirements and the legality of controlled substance e-prescribing in their respective states. E-prescribing software developers are currently in the process of ensuring that products meet the new DEA requirements and have the required certifications. In addition, some state laws and regulations will require changes before controlled substance e-prescribing will be fully legal.”
The article goes on to state, under the heading of Boards Offer Guidance: The Nevada State Board of Pharmacy issued a … caution to pharmacists in its October 2010 Newsletter: “No such systems [meeting the security requirements specified in the rule] are certified to date, nor have any third-party entities been identified to conduct such audits and certification.”
The North Dakota State Board of Pharmacy likewise issued written clarification on its Web site for registrants on electronic prescriptions and what constitutes a legitimate prescription. In its guidance, the Board notes the necessity of e-prescribing software to be certified before it can be used for controlled substance prescribing, and adding, “[I]t is not anticipated that any software systems will be ready and certified [in the near future].”
The complete NABP article is available at this site: