Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances (EPCS)

NOW LEGAL IN ALL 50 STATES

In August 2015, Vermont became the 50th state to legalize EPCS

On June 1, 2010, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Interim Final Rule titled “Electronic

Prescriptions for Controlled Substances” became effective. More than 5 years later, the

adoption of EPCS by Vermont in August 2015, marks the last milestone on the pathway to

embrace rules that allow e-prescriptions for controlled drugs; making EPCS legal nationwide.

Remarkable efforts to progress towards EPCS adoption accompanied with the implementation

of Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) registries at state-level, demonstrate the

nation’s commitment to improve patient safety. In the long run, EPCS shall help achieve

significant health improvements for the population and put a halt to the prescription drug

abuse epidemic which at present plagues our nation. In 2014 alone, there were more deaths

reported from prescription drug abuse than cocaine and heroin combined.

Despite the initial challenges, EPCS has finally received the acknowledgment it deserves and its

adoption is steadily attaining momentum. Combining e-prescriptions for controlled substances

in the same flow as non-controlled substances has made the e-prescribing model complete in

the true sense; thereby establishing e-prescribing as one of the most successful healthcare

standards.

On March 13, 2015, iPatientCare successfully integrated EPCS into its EHR’s existing e-

prescribing framework and stood up to the challenge by demonstrating compliance with

all intricate norms set by the DEA, including third-party certifications and adherence to

specific technology standards. Practitioners across the nation, can now use iPatientCare

EHR to prescribe controlled substances electronically and route them to pharmacies via

the Surescripts e-prescribing network.