AzDA Executive Director Kevin Earle answers your ePrescribing questions
WHAT’S THE NEWS?
We sent the email below to all AzDA members. Because so many questions came in, AzDA Executive Director Kevin Earle recorded a special Audio Amalgam podcast to provide some additional clarity and to address your questions.
To access the audio file, click the button below. The podcast is only about six minutes long.
Want to jump to a specific section? Use the timestamps below.
• Overview :44
• Are you just finding out about this now? You've missed AzDA's communications to you: 3:06
• Can I get an extension past January 1, 2020: 3:33
• Are there free services out there: 4:23
• I only prescribe maybe 4-5 narcotic (opioid type) prescriptions a year, do I really have to do this: 4:33
• The waiver will buy me twelve more months. Do you think AzDA will have a solution by then: 4:41
• Wrap up: 5:13
We sent the email below to all AzDA members. Because so many questions came in, AzDA Executive Director Kevin Earle recorded a special Audio Amalgam podcast to provide some additional clarity and to address your questions.
To access the audio file, click the button below. The podcast is only about six minutes long.
Want to jump to a specific section? Use the timestamps below.
• Overview :44
• Are you just finding out about this now? You've missed AzDA's communications to you: 3:06
• Can I get an extension past January 1, 2020: 3:33
• Are there free services out there: 4:23
• I only prescribe maybe 4-5 narcotic (opioid type) prescriptions a year, do I really have to do this: 4:33
• The waiver will buy me twelve more months. Do you think AzDA will have a solution by then: 4:41
• Wrap up: 5:13
WHO DOES THIS APPLY TO?
All dentists who prescribe schedule II opioids or benzyldiazines.
WHAT’S THE NEWS?
Beginning on January 1, 2019, each prescription order for a Schedule II drug that is an opioid in Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Yavapai, Mohave, and Yuma counties must be submitted electronically to the dispensing pharmacy. This same requirement becomes effective in Greenlee, La Paz, Graham, Santa Cruz, Gila, Apache, Navajo, Cochise, and Coconino counties on July 1, 2019.
HOW DO YOU BECOME ELECTRONIC PRESCRIPTIONS FOR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES (EPCS) CAPABLE?
This is done through the software company you choose, by way of filling out an EPCS document that would contain all your practice information, including your DEA number. This will register you with the State of Arizona Department of Pharmacy, and it will provide all available pharmacies access to your office information, prescribing doctor information and your DEA Information.
WHAT IF YOU CAN’T BECOME EPCS CAPABLE BY THE DEADLINE?
Per Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.)§36-2525(Q) the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy “shall establish a process to grant a waiver...for electronic prescription orders to a medical practitioner who lacks adequate access to broadband or faces other hardships that prevent the medical practitioner from implementing electronic prescription orders.
A one-time waiver may be granted but is only meant to give the medical practitioner additional time to get set up to be EPCS capable. The waiver will expire one year from the mandated start date for your county.
The waiver application can be found on the Arizona Board of Pharmacy website at
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xPvHif5Hnt_hpu2nFIXCC9hx9ye
IS THERE A DEADLINE FOR WAIVER APPLICATIONS?
The deadline for the waiver application for electronic prescribing in Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Yavapai, Mohave, and Yuma counties is December 15, 2018. The deadline for the waiver application for electronic prescribing in Greenlee, La Paz, Graham, Santa Cruz, Gila, Apache, Navajo, Cochise, and Coconino counties is June 15, 2019.
Once all sections of the waiver form are completed, please email form to pmp@azpharmacy.gov or fax to 602-771-2748
CAN THE WAIVER BE EXTENDED?
The waiver is good for up to one year from the mandated start date for your county. No extensions will be granted. You must be EPCS enabled upon the expiration of the waiver in order to continue prescribing schedule II opioids. If you are in Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Yavapai, Mohave, or Yuma county, your waiver will expire December 31, 2019. If you are in Greenlee, La Paz, Graham, Santa Cruz, Gila, Apache, Navajo, Cochise, or Coconino county, your waiver will expire June 30, 2020.
Link to the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy - e-prescribing FAQ’s: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tg7oAUmAAQeCv8ao
Please note that if this date of Dec 15 is missed, you will not be granted an extension to file for a waiver and will be forced to purchase one of the current software packages available. For the most current list of software available, access the following link: http://traffic.libsyn.com/azda/ePrescriptions_Software_List_v1.pdf
Have questions? Contact AzDA’s Manager of Business Development Terry Xelowski at terry@azda.org or 480.344.5777 ext. 313.
WHAT’S THE NEWS?
Beginning on January 1, 2019, each prescription order for a Schedule II drug that is an opioid in Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Yavapai, Mohave, and Yuma counties must be submitted electronically to the dispensing pharmacy. This same requirement becomes effective in Greenlee, La Paz, Graham, Santa Cruz, Gila, Apache, Navajo, Cochise, and Coconino counties on July 1, 2019.
HOW DO YOU BECOME ELECTRONIC PRESCRIPTIONS FOR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES (EPCS) CAPABLE?
This is done through the software company you choose, by way of filling out an EPCS document that would contain all your practice information, including your DEA number. This will register you with the State of Arizona Department of Pharmacy, and it will provide all available pharmacies access to your office information, prescribing doctor information and your DEA Information.
WHAT IF YOU CAN’T BECOME EPCS CAPABLE BY THE DEADLINE?
Per Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.)§36-2525(Q) the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy “shall establish a process to grant a waiver...for electronic prescription orders to a medical practitioner who lacks adequate access to broadband or faces other hardships that prevent the medical practitioner from implementing electronic prescription orders.
A one-time waiver may be granted but is only meant to give the medical practitioner additional time to get set up to be EPCS capable. The waiver will expire one year from the mandated start date for your county.
The waiver application can be found on the Arizona Board of Pharmacy website at
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xPvHif5Hnt_hpu2nFIXCC9hx9ye
IS THERE A DEADLINE FOR WAIVER APPLICATIONS?
The deadline for the waiver application for electronic prescribing in Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Yavapai, Mohave, and Yuma counties is December 15, 2018. The deadline for the waiver application for electronic prescribing in Greenlee, La Paz, Graham, Santa Cruz, Gila, Apache, Navajo, Cochise, and Coconino counties is June 15, 2019.
Once all sections of the waiver form are completed, please email form to pmp@azpharmacy.gov or fax to 602-771-2748
CAN THE WAIVER BE EXTENDED?
The waiver is good for up to one year from the mandated start date for your county. No extensions will be granted. You must be EPCS enabled upon the expiration of the waiver in order to continue prescribing schedule II opioids. If you are in Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Yavapai, Mohave, or Yuma county, your waiver will expire December 31, 2019. If you are in Greenlee, La Paz, Graham, Santa Cruz, Gila, Apache, Navajo, Cochise, or Coconino county, your waiver will expire June 30, 2020.
Link to the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy - e-prescribing FAQ’s: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tg7oAUmAAQeCv8ao
Please note that if this date of Dec 15 is missed, you will not be granted an extension to file for a waiver and will be forced to purchase one of the current software packages available. For the most current list of software available, access the following link: http://traffic.libsyn.com/azda/ePrescriptions_Software_List_v1.pdf
Have questions? Contact AzDA’s Manager of Business Development Terry Xelowski at terry@azda.org or 480.344.5777 ext. 313.
