The Arizona health care community is embracing electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS) as an important strategy to combat opioid abuse. EPCS eliminates paper prescriptions, which can be stolen, forged or altered. Beginning January 1, 2020, Arizona providers who order a Class II Opioid medication will be required to send it directly to a pharmacy instead of writing a paper prescription. But time is running out for providers to be ready and enabled to prescribe opioids electronically by the first of the year.
Because prescribing for opioids requires additional security and identity proofing processes compared to e-prescribing, it is imperative that providers who are not in compliance work to complete the necessary steps to be live on EPCS software by 1/1/2020. Prescribers will need to prove they are authorized to prescribe controlled substances and that they have been properly credentialed. Providers must use two-factor authentications when signing an EPCS prescription. Some of the options for two-factor authentications can include mobile phones, smart cards, fob tokens, USB thumb drives, and biometrics like fingerprint scanners.
To learn more about how to be ready for electronic prescribing of controlled substances, attend a Health Current “Click for Control Campaign” webinar, or contact Health Current, Arizona’s Health Information Exchange organization, at 602-688-7210 or eRx@HealthCurrent.org
| Title | Date | Time | Register Here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Understanding the New EPCS Mandates and Regulations PLUS: DrFirst EPCS Software Demonstration! |
Wed., Dec. 4, 2019 | 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. | Register Here |
| Written & Electronically Transmitted Prescription Requirements PLUS: DrFirst EPCS Software Demonstration! |
Thurs. Dec. 12, 2019 | 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. | Register Here |
| CSPMP: Controlled Substance Prescription Monitoring Program PLUS: DrFirst EPCS Software Demonstration! |
Wed., Dec. 18, 2019 | 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. | Register Here |
