Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances (EPCS) is now mandated in Arizona. This significant regulatory change affects all prescribers and long-term care pharmacies operating in the state.
Beginning January 1, 2020, each prescription order for a schedule II controlled substance that is an opioid must be transmitted electronically to the dispensing pharmacy.
What This Means for You:
- All prescribers must have EPCS-certified software in place
- Paper prescriptions for schedule II opioids are no longer accepted (with limited exceptions)
- Pharmacies must be equipped to receive electronic controlled substance prescriptions
- Dual-factor authentication is required for all EPCS transmissions
Watch our video overview for a complete walkthrough of the EPCS mandate and what you need to do to stay compliant.