Home Forums Discussions General Discussion E-Rx with Exostar, as Verizon will no longer support Controlled E-Rx

I think that is an unfair assessment of Exostar.

First, the United States as a whole and states, in general, have launched a war on opioids, that while I do not know how it is going in other states, is very strict and is working in Maine. The difficulty of prescribing opioids or getting them off will last as long as the program is in place. Just the mere statute that you must get every patient down to 100 Morphine Mg Equivalents is a huge step. Even as a pediatrician, I am embarrassed to say that I have five over that and one over 300. Some with the right codes and PAs are allowed to be on doses higher than that. One of the rules is that you must use EPCS. It won't be long before everyone uses it.

This cross-state lookup started with only a few states, and more are added every day. This is the PMP, which must be checked at least every three months by providers and pharmacists. We never used to use them except when we suspected a patient was involved in diversion, but we now catch more.



The paragraph listed does seem to make Exostar difficult and complex. If you read their site, you will see they confirm the identities of the DoD and many other government agencies. This is what they do. Lumping everything together would be like saying Verizon sucks, because they have their hands in many other things. Verizon, of course, did our identifying before. With Verizon, there was an error at least one in fifteen times. With Exostar, that is zero. Zero. Because it is what they do. They don't build cell towers and over charge for data.

ePrescribing, for me, was the single greatest part of the EMR. Prior to that, if I had five meds to write, I had to write them all by hand, meaning at least one was illegible. I certainly didn't type them into AC. It was controlled substances that made me buy the Star Print, ironically also way more complex than it needed to be. But, it sure made print scripts much easier if they needed to be single scripts. It was always nice to know that what you saw in AC was what was on the script. Sure, you could print to plain paper, but that had its own limitations, especially when MaineCare no longer let you prescribe Melatonin on a 8 1/2 sheet of paper, lest the MC patient change 3 tablet to 6.

I am not sure if your practice is two people or one. $It is $250 annually and not $170. And that comes with the $80 token subscription, which is a lifesaver when you leave your phone at home or that battery goes dead.

Again, it is hard to knock it until you try it. IF you use EPCS with Verizon and you like it, you will then love it with Authy. It is so much quicker, never having to log in, and saving three or four clicks. And, it never goes wrong. Ever. Never say never, but here it's as close as you can get to never.

I wish I only wrote a few controlled substances. Fortunately, we have around 75 patients on ADHD meds, the largest per physician in the state. It is something I specialize in. EPCS made it easier and safer, Exostar has made it a cakewalk. No more patients claiming they lost their script. No more patients stating they didn't have another prescription. No more patients selling their scripts. This was true with Verizon, but Authy is so much better.

The problem, as with all issues like this, is there are three companies in the mix. NewCrop, who provides the interface and one I will agree is horrific, AC who is supposed to be the one we go to when there is a problem, and Exostar who came up with this convoluted process of identification. But, it is only once, and if you ask someone if the security company watching Experian or calling Experian yourself is going to block the vetting questions, then that may make it easier. There does seem like there would be a better way to vet users online. Or even doing it by mail. I still think returning an email and sending a script to a waiting representative, thereby showing you are in front of your computer and can use EPCS. My God, there is such a thing as an IP address.

I really think looking at the posts above makes the whole process seem a lot more difficult than it is. AC should be all over this. They should be making appointments to walk people through the process. When that two-hour times slot (and I say two hours -- it takes 45 minutes at the most), because you could be instructed to do a GoToMeeting with a laptop and cam available so you don't need a second appointment. That would piss me off. What worries me is the past performance of AC support. I'm sorry, it just does. The vetting process by using questions that only Experian knows is fraught with problems and seems a bit problematic with confidentiality. Certainly, we didn't take Boards with four questions. The larger the sample size, the more likely you will pass. There should be 20 vetting questions. And, they should not be based on the female NP needing to answer questions about leases of her husband's. Sounds sexist to me.

In my view, this all falls on Exostar, and they be the one fielding questions: Here are a few of the contact methods:

703-793-7800 (I have not tried this number. I would ask for the division that does EPCS identification.
This same info can be found at the screen, which you can reach via: Manage via NewCrop screens on the scriptwriter in AC -> click on Admin (top right) -> Manage Your EPCS Account -> View our FAQs (almost top left in a #2 font). By the way, this would be the way that allows you to activate your token (you have to click Authenticate anywhere, but I chose under Manage Mobile Credential) which then allows you to do the things it asks you to do which you can't do until those are done, after all, it is Exostar) -> Contact us -> the phone number above is world wide -- Click here for a support case online. -> and, of course, their website: www.exostar.com. With another number 703-793-7733. I guess that one is not worldwide.

If you really wanted to complain, you could write to them at: 2325 Dulles Corner Blvd, 6th floor, Herndon, VA 20171.

From everything I know, and this isn't possible, but NewCrop certainly is in a great position to help here. If Exostar doesn't do it, and AC is our only resource, then wow would NC be the way to go. But, they don't do it. And, having to pay $50 is just wrong when you already have support.

Anyway, I know my logic is circular. I kind of talk at length and make fun of the process while stating it isn't that difficult. It's annoying, it shouldn't be this crazy, but in the end, it isn't all that difficult. Since, having LifeLock or some other security questions AUTOMATICALLY kicks you to webcam, I suppose if it were I, I would do two things:

1. I would write, yes write, a letter to Exostar telling them the vetting process is less than ideal and the fact that LifeLock doesn't even allow them to use it, shows that confidentiality is a problem. But, other than use a webcam cab appointment, why do they not work with Experian or TransUnion to get around the security block.
2. Be prepared with a webcam and tell AC you are going to do it on such and such a day, and you want to do the webcam thing that day if it is necessary.

Anyway, that's my two, no three cents.