Ohio: e-Prescribing of Controlled Substances

The Practice Fusion EHR provides advanced electronic prescribing capabilities, including electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS).*

Practice Fusion: Using an EHR system to meet Ohio state mandates for certified EPCS. EPCS allows you to:

• e-Prescribe scheduled drugs right from the Practice Fusion EHR
• Use one workflow for all prescriptions
• Minimize patient wait times at pharmacies
• Reduce unnecessary office visits
• Improve safety and reduce fraud and abuse
• Integrate with your state’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) to check for patients with duplicate prescriptions or other signs of “doctor shopping”
• Fully integrate with the Practice Fusion EHR and e-prescribing workflow
• Use a streamlined process for fast identity verification
• Automatically check patient-specific formularies and perform drug and allergy checks
• Automatically receive Electronic Prior Authorizations (ePA) for prescriptions

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Ohio State Mandates

Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances (EPCS)

Federal Mandate: Medicare Advantage & Medicare Part D Practitioners In 2018, the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act was passed by the federal government.^1,2 This Act includes legislation that requires Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D practitioners to begin electronically prescribing controlled substances January 1, 2021. Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescribers in every state are subject to the above mandate and must comply. Due to the COVID-19 health emergency, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has postponed penalties for noncompliance; however, enforcement of those penalties will begin January 1, 2022.^2,3

Ohio State Mandate: All Prescribers While the state of Ohio currently has no general EPCS mandate, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescribers in Ohio are still subject to the federal mandate and must e-prescribe schedule II, III, IV, and V controlled substances.⁴ Prescribers subject to the federal mandate may choose to e-prescribe controlled substances for all patients, regardless of payer. Prescribers not subject to the federal mandate may also choose to e-prescribe controlled substances. Doing so may reduce burden, improve workflow productivity, and increase safety and security.

Practice Fusion will continue to monitor legislative changes in the state of Ohio and will alert providers of any upcoming regulatory changes or requirements.

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), or Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System (OARRS)

Prescriber review of the Ohio state PDMP—also known as the Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System (OARRS)—is mandatory with limited exceptions, such as prescriptions for patients receiving treatment in hospices, hospitals, nursing homes, or residential care facilities; for patients diagnosed as terminally ill; and for others listed. Prescriber or their delegate must request and review patient information from OARRS for at least the previous twelve months before initially prescribing or personally providing an opioid analgesic or benzodiazepine. Prescriber or delegate must also make periodic requests to OARRS if opioid or benzodiazepine treatment continues for more than ninety days; additional requests must be made at intervals of not greater than ninety days and every time a new reportable drug is added to the patient’s therapy.^5-8

For other controlled substances, the prescriber or prescriber’s delegate must request and review patient information from OARRS prior to dispensing the first reportable drug; every time a new reportable drug is added to the patient’s therapy; and at least annually as long as the therapy continues.^5-8

Why choose Practice Fusion in Ohio for EPCS

Whether you just need a simple solution to address state mandates or are interested in more robust features such as text message appointment reminders or charting, Practice Fusion has the right features to meet your needs. We offer advanced e-prescribing capabilities including EPCS, prior authorization management, and allergy alerts. Your subscription will also include features such as:

• Charting
• Electronic lab and imaging test ordering and results
• Compliance tracking
• Appointment scheduling
• Text message appointment reminders
• Support for quality payment programs

In addition, Practice Fusion is able to integrate directly with Ohio’s PDMP database, or OARRS. This means prescribers can consult OARRS from within their existing workflow.

References

1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Medicare Program: Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances; Request for Information (RFI). Federal Register: The Daily Journal of the United States Government. Updated August 4, 2020. Accessed September 16, 2021, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/08/04/2020-16897/medicare-program-electronic-prescribing-of-controlled-substances-request-for-information-rfi.
   
2. CMS delays enforcement of e-prescribing requirement for controlled substances. California Medical Association. Updated December 15, 2020. Accessed September 16, 2021, https://www.cmadocs.org/newsroom/news/view/ArticleId/49150/CMS-delays-enforcement-of-e-prescribing-requirement-for-controlled-substances.
   
3. CMS formally delays EPCS enforcement. National Community Pharmacists Association. Updated December 4, 2020. Accessed August 22, 2021, https://ncpa.org/newsroom/qam/2020/12/04/qam-ad-cms-formally-delays-epcs-enforcement.
   
4. Public Law No: 115-271 (10/24/2018) H.R.6 - SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (Congress.gov - U.S. Governnent Publishing Office).
   
5. State PDMP Profiles and Contacts. Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Training and Technical Assistance Center. Updated July 7, 2021. Accessed August 19, 2021, https://www.pdmpassist.org/State.
   
6. Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System. Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System (OARRS). Accessed August 6, 2021, https://www.ohiopmp.gov/.
   
7. State of Ohio. When to Check OARRS - Pocket Card - Prescribers and Pharmacists. https://www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/Documents/LawsRules/RuleChanges/OARRSRules/When%20to%20Check%20OARRS%20-%20Pocket%20Card%20-%20Prescribers%20and%20Pharmacists.pdf.
   
8. State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy. Mandatory OARRS Registration and Requests April 18, 2019. https://www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/Documents/Pubs/Special/OARRS/Mandatory%20OARRS%20Registration%20and%20Requests.pdf.
   

*Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances (EPCS) is only available in the 50 US states and the District of Columbia