EPCS Compliance for Medicare Part D Began January 1st, 2023
Is your software certified? Prescribers issuing Schedule II–V controlled substances under Medicare Part D must be compliant!
2023 Federal EPCS Enforcement
On January 1, 2023, the United States federal government's Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) enforced the use of Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances (EPCS) for all Schedule II, III, IV, and V medication drugs prescribed under Medicare Part D. RXNT's E-Prescribing software is EPCS-certified to help you comply. Our cost-effective solution is easy to implement for any practice size, and our money-back guarantee* takes the stress out of implementing new software for your practice. Don't take chances with non-compliance!
Electronic Prescribing for Controlled Substances (EPCS) refers to the electronic transmission of prescriptions for Schedule II thru V controlled substances between eligible healthcare providers and a pharmacy that accepts e-prescriptions. Electronic prescriptions are more easily monitored and tracked than paper prescriptions, providing greater control and security for the entire healthcare industry.
Compliance, Exceptions, Waivers, & Penalties
Compliance Determination
In measurement year 2023—between 1/1/23 and 12/31/23—at least 70% of prescription drug claims for Schedule II, III, IV, and V controlled substances under Medicare Part D must be electronically prescribed after exceptions are applied.
Exceptions
1. When the prescriber and dispensing pharmacy are the same entity, 2. Prescribers who issue 100 or fewer qualifying Medicare Part D prescriptions per year, 3. Prescribers who are in an emergency or disaster area (as declared by a Federal, State, or local government entity), 4. Prescribers who are unable to conduct electronic prescribing due to circumstances beyond their control
Waivers
Prescribers may request a waiver when circumstances beyond their control prevented them from electronically prescribing controlled substances. The waiver application period for the 2023 EPCS measurement year will open in the calendar year 2024.
Penalties
For the 2023 EPCS measurement year, CMS will enforce compliance by sending notifications of non-compliance to prescribers violating the EPCS mandate. Compliance actions for prescriptions for beneficiaries in a long-term care (LTC) facility will begin on January 1, 2025.
RXNT Will Help You Comply With EPCS
If you prescribe controlled substances under Medicare Part D, you can avoid the penalties for non-compliance while also helping double down on prescription safety.
Since 1999, RXNT has pioneered digital E-Prescribing Software for ambulatory practices and has been EPCS-certified by the DEA since the 2010 legislation was enacted. RXNT's award-winning software satisfies both Federal and State regulations and connects directly to your state’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP)/Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP).
Many individual state mandates already require EPCS, but the U.S. federal government's 2018 ruling of the H.R. 6 "SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act" mandated that Schedule II-V controlled substances under Medicare Part D should be prescribed electronically by January 1, 2021. While the mandate has already been in effect since 2021, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) began enforcing noncompliance for prescribers violating the EPCS mandate on January 1st, 2023.
Not only do providers need to comply with EPCS, but they also need to register with and receive an ID number from the DEA under DEA Title 21. Compliance requires two-factor authentication tokens and strict password safeguarding.
Modern, robust features
Simple Pricing: Free setup and training, free data transfer, free in-house support, free system upgrades, and free mobile apps.
Seamless Integration: Whether you choose a single solution or our entire suite of software, your data is accessible and interoperable.
Cloud-Based: Affordable, secure access from anywhere with a secure, central database and mobile applications for Android & iOS.
Customizable to your needs
Our cloud-based software enables custom SIGs for frequently prescribed medications, token options to best suit your workflow, and pre-set preferences to improve your prescribing experience.
An award-winning, certified solution
Our eRx solution is certified by the DEA to support Electronic Prescribing for Controlled Substances (EPCS).
Five-time Surescripts certified, award-winning application, and ONC-HIT certified. Meets or exceeds all HIPAA requirements.
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Mobile Applications
iOS and Android applications to prescribe medications under Medicare Part D from anywhere, at anytime
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EPCS-Certified
Federal DEA certified with two-factor authentication to prescribe Controlled Substance medications
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EHR Integration
Integrate ERX seamlessly to your EHR to eliminate data discrepancies and toggling between systems
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PDMP Connectivity
Direct connection to your state's PMP/PDMP from your RXNT software for complete medication history
Check Out These Helpful Resources
How the Inflation Reduction Act Impacts Healthcare Costs for Medicare
Why They Matter: Understanding the Relationship Between EPCS and PDMPs
[Update] CMS Delays EPCS Compliance Enforcement for Medicare Part D to January 1, 2023
*Write prescriptions within 10 days after you enroll and complete the self-paced training.
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