We wrote about this back in July, but it’s worth writing about again.

Somehow, slipped into the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’’ Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act of 2007, was a law which mandates the use of tamper-resistant prescriptions for all non-electronic Medicaid prescriptions. This takes place October 1, 2007.  Without this, there will be no reimbursement to the pharmacies.  Thus, the pharmacies will not be obligated to fill your prescriptions. The purpose of this law is to save the US government approximately $200 million over a five-year period by reducing fraud and abuse.

So what does this mean for you? If you see patients with Medicaid and your practice, anywhere in the United States, you will need to do one of the following:

1. Purchase tamper resistant prescription pads, or if you print at your prescriptions on a computer you can use tamper resistant laser paper.
2. Call in all prescriptions to the pharmacy
3. Fax and all prescriptions to the pharmacy
4. All prescriptions requiring a hard copy (such as scheduled to medications) will require a tamper resistant pad/paper.
5. Electronic transmission utilizing one of the E. prescribing solutions

So where can you get tamper resistance prescription paper or RX pads?

Medical arts press
http://www01.medicalartspress.com

RxPaper
http://www.rxpads.com/2007/Index.aspx

Micro Format, Inc. – This is where I got my paper.
http://www.prescriptionpaper.com/ 

What about Electronic Prescribing

National E Prescribing – This service is available free.
http://www.nationalerx.com/

Your EMR system may offer a solution.

Be sure to check with your pharmacy board for specifics about your state. I know I spoke with a few local pharmacies this week just to make sure we’d be in compliance.  Since I already use tamper resistant paper for all controlled substances, we will be covered.

Decide how you want to proceed and start putting it in place as soon as possible. You only have a few weeks to prepare.

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