EPCS 101: Everything You Need to Know

As organizations across the U.S. continue to move away from outdated paper processes, more and more are turning to ePrescribing to replace the paper, fax, email, and phone processes for placing prescription orders.

Not only does this need to be done to streamline processes, but it’s also necessary for complying with new regulations related to Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances (EPCS) coming into effect.

Here, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about EPCS, why it’s necessary, and why you need to ensure you’re ready to comply with future regulations.

What Is ePrescribing?

Electronic Prescribing, or ePrescribing, refers to the process by which a prescription is electronically created, validated, and transmitted directly from the practitioner to a pharmacy or pharmacist. The key benefits of ePrescribing are:

• Improved patient safety and quality of care.
• Reduced time on phone calls to or from pharmacies.  
• Increased medication compliance and outcomes.
• Improved formulary adherence, resulting in lower drug costs.

What Is EPCS?

EPCS is a special instance of ePrescribing, that follows a set of requirements established by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for security, authentication, and audit.

According to the ASTP Health IT Playbook, EPCS has become an essential component of modern healthcare, offering numerous benefits that enhance patient safety, efficiency, and security.

Benefits of EPCS include:

• Enhanced patient safety
• Improved accuracy
• Reduced fraud and drug diversion
• Reduced drug abuse and misuse
• Improved workflow efficiencies

With nearly 9 in 10 in-office physicians now using electronic health records, the integration of EPCS is not only mandated by many U.S. states, but it’s also crucial for streamlining workflows and ensuring accurate record-keeping. As healthcare continues to evolve, the adoption of EPCS is a pivotal step towards a safer and more efficient prescribing process.

If you’re looking to enhance your practice with these advantages, watch our webinar to learn more about the benefits, requirements, and best practice solutions for EPCS.

EPCS Regulations

To push this forward at both the federal and state level, regulations have been enacted. A federal rule, the SUPPORT Act, which was effective as of January 1, 2021, started to be enforced as of January 1, 2023. Compliance actions for long-term care (LTC) were exempted from that effective date but are scheduled to begin on January 1, 2028.

The intent of this rule is that EPCS will be required for all controlled substances covered under Medicare Part D. A detailed review reveals that this rule does include exceptions, such as for LTC patients that are dual-eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. A waiver process is also available in specified circumstances. 

Many states are following the lead of this rule and creating their own legislation for EPCS requirements. Some states have a different deadline or have excluded LTC from their requirements. It is worth noting that states may choose to create more prohibitive rules, but many states may simply rely upon the SUPPORT act.

Next Steps

The key to complying with the regulation is to get started early! We encourage you start preparing as soon as possible, and to do that, you need to bring awareness to your organization. Follow these steps to start preparing:

1. Determine EPCS mandate status
   • Federal and State regulations around EPCS specific to your operation should be reviewed.
   • Determine qualifications for exemptions or waivers and consult with your legal counsel to be sure to be aware of all obligations.
2. Engage your Prescribers
   • Prescriber buy-in is key. They’ll need to get used to signing orders electronically and may need time and training to understand new workflows.
   • Be creative in getting prescribers to engage! A new mobile app for signing orders, reviews, access to resident information, etc., can help improve their experience.
3. Evaluate Integration and Applications
   • Prescribing replaces the paper, fax, email, and phone processes for placing prescription orders. You’ll need a comprehensive solution to ensure a smooth transition.

The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.