Controlled Substances Expected to Gain E-Scrip Clearance?
According to a report published by Government Health IT, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is planning to propose a new rule which will allow for electronic prescribing of controlled medicines. It is anticipated that the rule will partially lift the current ban on this practice.
The federal process to create new rules requires their publication in the Federal Register followed by a period for public comments. Comments are then reviewed and a final rule is later issued.
Earlier this spring, the DEA announced plans to allow such prescribing, which was noted on HospitalBuyer. Until a new rule is finalized, patients are still required to procure paper prescriptions from physicians. Advocates for the technology note that e-prescribing can improve patient safety, in addition to cutting costs.
The Agency has been under pressure to change the current policy. Estimates suggest that almost one-fifth of all prescriptions are for controlled substances. There has been speculation that inability to use this approach for e-prescribing has hampered adoption of the technology.
The Agency balked, suggesting that existing systems are not sufficiently secure. As an aside, prescription drug abuse is becoming increasingly common. In light of that, improved efforts to regulate these products are required.
June 25, 2008 Related topics: Legal & legislative, Trends, Quality, Safety, Errors