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

I agree for sure, the queasy feeling I use to get when I got a request for a scheduled drug has gone away. The Authy app on the phone makes this painful vetting process and cost increase worth it IMHO.

controlled prescribing very smooth with Exostar and Authy app on phone. No more entering another ID and password and typing in a 6 digit code. Just submit push notification on newcrop then press accept on the notification from the authy app.

Also , I tested if it works if there is no internet access to the authy app (by putting phone in airplane mode). THen one just types in the transient 6 digit code from the app. (might benefit from this when traveling if having to pay per device for internet access, this way just pay for one device, the notebook computer)

Hello All,

How do we sign up for Exostar? My Verizon EPCS expires in 2 weeks and was not notified to use this new service??

http://amazingcharts.com/support/message-about-epcs/

I would print out your Experian credit report before applying so you have help with your vetting questions.

If you have LifeLock or a similar credit security product, you may not be able to do the initial vetting. You may have to go directly to webcam.

I keep saying this but the Authy App is awesome, so much easier, so I highly recommend going through the painful vetting process. Just make sure you don't have any apps open on the phone such as Epocrates, when you E-scribe otherwise you have to back out of the Epocrates App, which can slow down things a bit.

I hate it.

OK, just in case. I don't mislead anyone going through "the process."

Jimmie is absolutely correct. It's awesome.

Had my WebEx interview late this AM, Exostar up and running by 1:30 didn't need help from support other than notified them that I was verified so that they could do the internal switch.
Seems easier.

Hi koby,

Do you mind telling me what method you are using to validate the EPCS prescription? In other words, are you opening the app on your phone and typing in the number or are you clicking on Send to Authy....and then tapping on the "Authy bar" on your phone and selecting Approve?

Only asking because the former is easier than Verizon, but the latter is much, much easier. At least from my perspective.

tried typing in the number ok a step easier, then tried send push notification and click approve in authy app another level easier

Yeah, I thought so. You no longer have to type anything. Especially username and password. You don't have to stare at that blank username field each time wondering why you have to type in your username every time.

90% of the time, my CMA has set up all the scripts in pending, so its two clicks, pick a pharmacy if not already there (my CMA usually does that as well), then send push notification. So after opening up NewCrop screens in the ePrescribe window, it's literally

2 clicks
Click on Send push notification
Swype finger down from top of phone revealing the Authy icon across the screen (always at the top)
Click on Accept

Unlike the Verizon app, it works 99% of the time. And, you never have to open the app or watch that cloud not connect four times in a row.

So if we are using the Authy phone app and have already done video verification do we have to do anything with the hardware token? Is it just another key-ring fob?

I have my hardware token in a safe secure spot at the office, just in case my phone service goes out or I forget my phone. I think of it as an extra way of doing the Controlled E-Rx. It is a bit more cumbersome than the Authy App but still a viable way of EPCSing.

verified the thing now I'll go lock it somewhere in my office, maybe I'll try it once before it gets locked away(lost), what tech does the token use to generate numbers is it just a random number generator or does it 'connect' somewhere to retrieve a number?

I am all googled out trying to figure your answer out. I don't know how it works.

The token should be connected so it is active. Another easy step which is convoluted. It is important to have your app for a few reasons. One, as jimmie says, in case you forget your phone or it needs charging.

Do NOT keep it on a key ring. Think of it as a key to a kilo of Oxycontin. Should keep somewhere in a drawer and hidden. Doesn't need to be locked up or anything.

No, it is not random. It is like the old Verizon one where the bar went across, and you had until that much time to enter it or select the cool cloud thing. When you click the button, the number is entered and sent in and is matched with a number generated there or in Exostar's database.

Just remember if you leave it around and a staff member finds it, and you leave AC open, they can order anything. If you lose it, you will want to disable it the same way you enabled it. After that I don't know if you would need to purchase a new one (probably for $80). You can't re-enable it if you don't have it.

This system is much better, but it is at least 80% less secure than the Verizon method.

SSHH!!

I checked with my sources, and he/she does not think it communicates directly with Exostar so they are both synced. What he/she thinks happens is that there is a special algorithm whereby the token generates a number that is accepted as a number which will work.

That's the best I can do until I speak with Mr. Felt, which will be impossible.

sounds about right some algorithm linked to the keys serial number guess might come in handy on the next cruise where I pay for internet connection but not cell service onboard

You laugh, but the information I got referred to doctors who work in jails with no chance of an outside signal.

I can confirm the authy app works on a cruise with the phone on airplane mode. The push function doesn't work, just have to type in number.

So is this really worth the trouble vs printing a couple scripts per day and hand signing? I hadn't thought about the cruise idea: It's sometimes a problem leaving town when people need their Perc-10s!

In all seriousness, if you ask me for 'Perc10s' you aren't getting squat! I used to keep a list of narcotic patients in case I had to leave town, but now we just automatically have them schedule all their follow ups, so if I leave town everyone is covered.

The key is a couple of scripts per day. Some of us may do 15 or more scripts per day.

Physicians knew that sending CIIs electronically was always MUCH more secure than handing a script to a someone interested in drug diversion.

Electronically with ePrescribe would make is easier to begin with. But, you obviously have to have security measures, therefore EPCS. And, Authy makes it twice as easy Verizon.

It also cuts back on excuses. I lost my script. They can't read the script, different pharmacies, etc. I know, I don't buy those either, but it still takes time.

EPCS rocks.

Not to mention it cuts way down on the Star Printer driver issues.

It's a slow process, but I am taking everyone off scheduled drugs, and not accepting new patients who require them.
I will never get to zero scheduled, but that is the goal.

I am really, really angry about being used as a tool by BigPharma and the Justice Department and the DEA and the people on the Medical Board with axes to grind, and the corrupt Oregon Health Authority.

I print the few scheduled prescriptions I still have to issue -- I'm not getting involved with those parasites who make their money off my discomfort.

I think Exostar with the Authy app makes EPCS much easier than with verizon. In addition if one is away on vacation or away from the office working from home, printing and signing a script is not even an option. I suppose it comes down to what is easiest and most comfortable to do, but I would do it all again in a heartbeat, because it is that much easier. It does give one other options, and of course I can still print and sign if a patient prefers that, but not many do.

There are more and more states requiring it. I know that Maine and New York are required to use EPCS.

I have been following this discussion even though I don't presently do EPCS. I assume that, at some point in the future, we will all be required to do it.

I continue to think that we are being taken for a financial ride by AC and its vendors. NewCrop has always been substandard prescribing software.

I now know of two companies where one can do ERx for FREE. I have investigated EPCS with one of them, it is also done through Exostar with the cost as follows: Subscription including token - 1 year $100, 2 year $190, 3 year $270.

If anyone wants further details, PM me.

Does it sync with AC?

No.

That is the only advantage that I appreciate from NewCrop, its AC integration.

For my situation, the analysis is $1500 to AC for integrated ERx (since I don't use any upgrades/support), or $1500 for my next vacation with manual reconciliation of AC list and other ERx. Pondering.....

On a different subject:

Has anyone noticed the new feature from NC. I wasn't sure if it had been there before, but evidently less than a week.

But, when you click on Authy before you click on Approve, all of the medications you have sent are listed and numbered. Apparently, some doctors asked for this feature.

I find it pretty cool but not very helpful. As you know, you don't have that much time to click on Approve. So, I feel like I look maybe three seconds. But, at least if you have sent four scripts, you can see that four scripts were sent. Of course, you can do that when the window turns to the print screen, but it's still kinda cool. Wouldn't have been the first feature I would have asked for. But, I have asked for a few so we will see.

Yes, I just noticed that this week too, which I think is helpful,like you said if you send more than one or even one, you can make a quick check and make sure you sent the right med(s). And then use the print screen to confirm again. I don't know about you but we have two walgreens and walmarts in town, and it is sometimes easy to mix up which one you send meds to, and the print screen function is also nice to confirm you sent the meds to the correct pharmacy too. I think all in all a nice feature to have for a quick reference and confirmation, followed up by the print screen helps to confirm right med and location sent.

Yes, we do. Of course, we will have a lot more Walgreen's soon. We can always tell, because Walgreen's will fill the scripts promptly and correctly, and Wal-Mart will screw it up.

I got this from another user. But, Rite Aids won't go through on ePrescribe if bought out. But, if you put their phone number in, it will go through. Next time you go in, there will be two Rite Aids listed. I believe on good one and one bad one.

If you are in EPCS some Rite Aids are listed and some aren't anymore. So, that is when I just do a search. Just the town and state. Three or four pharmacies come up. Rite Aid is there. I am rather sure all Rite Aids go through in NC.

We have a lot of Rite Aids and Walgreens across the street from each other. Should be interesting.

Another interesting thing that can be helpful. If you haven't sent another script in, you can click on the magnifying glass of any script in the CURRENT MEDS, then scroll down. It will show it was sent. It may show it two or more times, one with sent, one with queued, but one with sent/electronic/verified.

If you have time, which I generally don't, you can click on missing scripts, even write in the tech who called you, and NC will track it down with SureScripts and even talk with the tech. This was more helpful when it first started and techs hadn't learned yet.

I had a Wal-Mart pharmacies about one month after refuse to accept an oxycodone, because he said it needed a tamper-proof script. I was very polite (my staff couldn't believe it), and told him about EPCS but if he didn't feel comfortable he didn't need to fill it. I sent to another pharmacy and no issues. I think the big box stores are actually trained last.

Just an Update on this topic, I have been using the Galaxy Samsung 6 for a couple of years, never had an apple product, and at the urging of the kids got the new i-phone xr. One thing I have noticed is the immediate pop up of the Authy App, even faster and easier than on the Samsung (don't even have to open the screen on the phone, just tap on authy app notification and hit approve), wow!