On June 1, 2010, DEA's Interim Final Rule titled "Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances" became effective.

The rule revises DEA regulations to provide practitioners with the option of writing prescriptions for controlled substances electronically. The regulations also permit pharmacies to receive, dispense, and archive these electronic prescriptions. These regulations are an addition to, not a replacement of, the existing rules. The regulations provide pharmacies, hospitals, and practitioners with the ability to use modern technology for controlled substance prescriptions while maintaining the closed system of controls on controlled substances.

Interim Final Rule with Request for Comment: Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances (March 31, 2010)

http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/fed_regs/rules/2010/fr0331.htm

The Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency (GDNA) and the Georgia State Board of Pharmacy (Board) follow the guidelines set forth in the DEA EPCS rule

In order for any pharmacy to receive Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances from a prescribing practitioner, the pharmacy must utilize software (Application) that has been approved through a third party audit and certification process to attest the software (application) is DEA EPCS compliant to receive.

In order for any prescribing practitioners to transmit Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances to a pharmacy, the prescribing practitioner must utilize software (Application) that has been approved through a third party audit and certification process to attest the software (application) is DEA EPCS compliant to transmit.

Pharmacies must ensure the EPCS they receive came from a prescribing practitioner using approved software. Unless a pharmacy is using verified software, as listed below, to receive EPCS from a prescribing practitioner who is using verified software, as listed below, to transmit EPCS, the pharmacy must ensure the prescribing practitioner's software application has been approved. Otherwise, the EPCS can be deemed as an invalid prescription.

Prescribing Practitioners must ensure the ECPS they transmit is done so using approved EPCS software and is being transmitted to a pharmacy that can receive EPCS by utilizing approved software. Unless a prescribing practitioner is using verified software, as listed below, to transmit EPCS to a pharmacy which is using verified software, as listed below, to receive EPCS, the prescribing practitioner must ensure the pharmacy’s software application has been approved. Otherwise, the EPCS can be deemed as an invalid prescription.

*See the attached Georgia Pharmacy EPCS Guidelines for further information and clarification

The EPCS audit approvals for the following software (applications) have been provided to and verified by GDNA to transmit or receive EPCS: (see Word document below for this list)

Allscripts ePrescribe - see PDF files

CarePoint - see PDF files

Coalfire Systems-EpicCare and Willow

Condor (McKesson) – see McKesson PDF file

CVS Pharmacies – see PDF file

DrFirst Transmission - see PDF file

EnterpriseRx (McKesson) – see McKesson PDF file

Health Business Systems (HBS) – see PDF file

McKesson Pharmacy Systems – see PDF files

PDX Classic and PDX Enterprise Pharmacy Systems – see PDF file

PharmacyRx (McKesson) – see McKesson PDF file

PioneerRx (Surescripts) Pharmacy Application System – see PDF file

QS/1 Data System – see PDF file

Rite Aid’s Pharmacy EPCS – see PDF file

Rx30 System – See PDF file

Surescripts EPCS - see PDF files

Walgreens Company – see PDF file

Zadall-Chain (McKesson) – see PDF file

Zadall-Independent (McKesson) – see PDF file

Other EPCS Information from DEA

DEA Questions and Answers for EPCS

General EPCS Questions and Answers

http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/ecomm/e_rx/faq/faq.htm

Questions and Answers for Prescribing Practitioners

http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/ecomm/e_rx/faq/practitioners.htm

Questions and Answers for Pharmacies

http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/ecomm/e_rx/faq/pharmacies.htm

For Providers of Electronic Prescription Applications, Pharmacy Applications, and Intermediaries

http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/ecomm/e_rx/faq/eapplications.htm