New York Takes the Lead in EPCS

Today, Surescripts released new data about its Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances (EPCS) solution, and how it’s helping New York tackle prescription drug abuse. In fact, prescribers in New York are adopting EPCS at five times the national rate of 5.8 percent. New York’s prescribers are embracing EPCS, and 27 percent of total prescribers are enabled to digitally prescribe controlled substances.

Surescripts’ Ken Whittemore, Senior Vice President of Professional and Regulatory Affairs, said, “Physicians in New York have done a really nice job in preparing for this change. Pharmacies have stepped up in a very big way as well. New York’s impressive adoption rate shows its healthcare community’s commitment to not only meeting the I-STOP mandate, but also recognizing one of the state’s most pressing and alarming healthcare challenges.”

I-STOP is the Internet System for Tracking Over-Prescribing (I-STOP) mandate, which requires that all prescriptions be transmitted electronically in New York by March 27, 2016.

The mandate, which was previously slated for March 27 of last year, was delayed due to political and industry concerns, as well as the Long Term Care market’s sense of unpreparedness.

Whittemore is hopeful that the gap in adoption will close quickly, especially as the steps to comply are similar to other processes physicians and pharmacies regularly deal with.

“There’s still time to implement and adopt EPCS, “said Whittemore. “It certainly takes a bit of work for prescribers to complete identity proofing and credentialing, but the process isn’t all that different from others in terms of time and effort. And the great part is, once it’s done, it’s done.”

Visit getEPCS.com to review the steps to enabling the electronic transmission of controlled substance prescriptions.