Home Forums Discussions General Discussion Prescription Security

Hello AC Forums,

Wondering if anyone would be able to point me in the right direction as far as some resources/literature that my practice could compile to send to pharmacies that question whether our printed scripts from AC are legitimate and have the required security features. I practice in the state of Pennsylvania, if that matters or not, I am not certain. I have looked up a few articles/documents but wanted to know if you guys had any great links. Any help would be much appreciated - thanks!

-- Matt

Matt,

I practice in Indiana so I do not know if it will apply. But, when I first started faxing I called and got the fax numbers of all of the local and regional pharmacies we had on file. Then I faxed them a test script and asked them to reply stating whether it came through satisfactorily and if it met the state (or Commonwealth's) standards. All were very nice in their replies and AC met all their requirements.

Leslie

Matt,

I am not sure by reading your post if you are referring to an AC script of Amoxicillin or Percocet. The newer versions do have some security features that are supposed to be tamper-proof, although they don't look like they would meet our requirements.

Otherwise, there are very few pharmacies that I know of who would not take an AC script on plain paper for Allegra.

I do know that the pharmacies in Maine would NOT accept:

Albert Adams, M.D.
Electronic signature

for faxing, but would accecpt:

Digitally signed by Albert Adams, M.D.
Electronic signature

Go figure.

Matt,

I started using the plain paper prescriptions and then eventually got the star thermal printer and the security prescription paper. I really love the thermal printer.

Marty,

Good timing. I just helped my friend set up his Star Micronics TSP800 Printer. Nothing beats it. I fax all non Schedule II scripts and use plain paper for those who want them handed to them. I am not allowed by Federal law to give plain scripts to Medicaid patients so I either fax them or print to the Star.

Of course, anything Schedule II is printed to the Star.

As far as I know most pharmacies take a fax without special security features - mail order complains and won't take scanned signatures (Don't get Leslie started on Medco....) -new electronic scrips from 5.0.24 should allow you to send them to Medco (had error), but have not tried.

I live in a small town with 3 pharmacies- they all take my electronic scanned signature, but you may get grief. I would then still print / sign / fax and not use special paper.

The star thermal printer is a solution, but I am waiting to see what the DEA says about electronic - would get rid of almost all my paper scrips. My state is instituting a new law that says all non faxed scrips have to be on special state approved paper - they have their own program with a state seal -- I am sure that paper will be really cheap....

All 40 or so of our pharmacies take my faxes without a scanned signature or any printed signature unless it is something like Paregoric or Vicodin.

I actually scanned in a sig and use it even for my vicodin....I only rarely get a kickback and usually only from pharmacy that I do not know.

I have had very few issues faxing back refills for narcotics which, of course, are not on Indiana's required security scripts. For new scripts it is different. They must be written on the secure pads.

NY has special Rx paper. Currently, the paper is FREE. but sooner or later I am afraid there will be a budget problem and they will want to lose this expense.

I know I will be in the minority on this one, but this always reminds me of busting the 17 yo for a bag of pot while the drug lords continue their thing.

Personally, I don't really worry much about drug diversion.

Case in point: I caught my MA red handed calling in Vicodin for herself with evidence from me and the pharmacy, and the DA and police department not only did nothing when I called them two months later to see what was up they said and I quote, "Can you send that info again, we lost it."

And, then there is the police version of HIPAA. Not only did the lieutenant tell me he lost the papers, he went on to tell me the details of her prior police record. Nice.