First, I am not sure if AC is the one making this decision. I believe NewCrop and Verizon are not working together anymore. In fact, Verizon may not be working in this field. I could be wrong. But, what I know I am right about or at least in my opinion is:
Exostar is worth $500 a year if you are going to EPCS. I was a beta tester for Exostar. While I registed with NewCrop, AC was along for the ride to learn the process. Even with NewCrop's teaching, I looked back and thought it was a bit convoluted. But, it is soooooo much simpler. So much easier. When you go through the registration part by yourself, you can take your time. It is only when you are confirmed and registered with Exostar do you need to ask AC to connect to Exostar. I told NC that I think that may be the step that takes the longest. I just have that feeling.
We are being offered (some would say forced) to go through this verification process only because the DEA has allowed it. NC and Exostar have worked with the DEA to make EPCS so much easier. Why do we need to go to such steps to verify our identity? Because you will no longer have to type in your username. You will no longer have to type in your password. You will no longer have to click on that stupid allow. You will no longer have to hope the cloud that drops from the top of your phone actually works the first or second or third time.
As you know, you need two-factor authentication. Well, your first factor is your login to AC. So, obviously if you are using NewCrop for EPCS to send a controlled substance, you are already in AC and logged in. Done.
The amount of clicks is reduced by four. (It takes two clicks from pending scripts to be done with your mouse. So, you get to the second screen on EPCS. In the picture in the PDF where it shows hard token, you can open AUTHY and enter the number, but that sucks. You want to use Send Push Notification to Approve.
That's it with that screen. That's it with the crazy NewCrop EPCS screens. In about three seconds, you will hear this cute little sound. That is Exostar sending the second factor. You don't even have to open the app. Not sure what kind of smartphone you have, but with the most, you can swipe down from the top for notifications. You can open your screen, but you don't have to. You just swipe down and right at the top is a red bar from Authy. Tap it with your finger. At the bottom left of your screen will be Accept. Tap Accept and the script goes through.
Maybe this doesn't sound better. It is. It is waaaaayyyy better. You won't know until you try it. And, you can add the hard token later. I had it mailed. I haven't even bound it yet.
You only have to pay AC $50 if your need their help.
You do not have to do webcam identification. My NP had to, but she screwed up the vetting questions. It was so easy to do the webcam. I am not sure if others have had to go through these verification type questions before, but there are four, and they are basically things that only you could ever know. Typically what mortgage company you used in 2014. It may be tricky. They may have your current company listed. It asked me what my first car was. It asked me what loan company I had for school loans. It's a lot like a Board test. There is an obvious right answer if you studied that, but there are distractors. Test writers actually use that word. So, you have to be careful. NC was not able to tell me the overall system, but I think if you get all four right you are done. I think if you miss one, there are like five more on the next page. My NP was asked about a car loan taken out two years ago on what car. She didn't select the car because it was in her husband's name. OK. Dirty pool. But, they knew that info. It was the only thing that fit. Of course, go with it.
http://www.amazingcharts.com/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/Help_Documents/Exostar_Registration.pdfThe link they put in AC's message is incorrect to a degree. If you take this step by step, you will get through it. Trust me even going through it on GoToMeeting, it was overly technical. I told them it should be much smoother. But, like a lot of things where you go step by step. At first, it seems laborious. If you do it the second time, it seems so much faster. You don't need to pay AC. I don't know what the "paying NC" is. But, just look at it like it is more per year. Trust me. It's worth it. And, do you want your money going to the behemoth Verizon? Or to a much smaller company Exostar. And, first I thought AUTHY was a stupid name. But he is so cute.
If you have any questions, post here or PM me. If I don't know, I can find out easily.
