March 31, 2008

One Final Reminder…Medicaid Tamper Resistant Prescription Law Becomes Effective on April 1

As we have previously communicated, the Medicaid Tamper Resistant Prescription requirements will be effective beginning April 1, 2008.  The law applies only to written prescriptions for covered outpatient drugs; prescriptions that are transmitted from the prescriber to the pharmacy verbally, by fax, or through an e-prescription are not impacted by the statute, and so those methods may be used as alternatives to a written prescription.  The law applies whenever Medicaid pays any portion of the cost of a prescription. 

To be considered tamper resistant on April 1, 2008, a prescription pad must contain at least one of the following three characteristics:

1. one or more industry-recognized features designed to prevent unauthorized copying of a completed or blank prescription form;
2. one or more industry-recognized features designed to prevent the erasure or modification of information written on the prescription pad by the prescriber;
3. one or more industry recognized features designed to prevent the use of counterfeit prescription forms.

By October 1, 2008, a prescription pad must contain all three of the above characteristics to be considered tamper-resistant.

What can pharmacists do if they are not sure if a prescription meets the requirements?

• Call the prescribing practitioner to obtain verbal confirmation of the prescription and document the confirmation appropriately. (NOTE: the pharmacy does not need to speak to the prescriber directly; a nurse or administrative staff person who is authorized to act on behalf of the prescriber may confirm the prescription.)
• Fill the prescription and obtain documentation within 72 hours. A pharmacy may fill prescriptions on an emergency basis, provided that the pharmacy obtains a compliant prescription within 72 hours after the fill date. The compliant prescription may be in the form of a written prescription on tamper-resistant paper or may be obtained by verbal communication with the prescriber, by facsimile, or by e-prescription.

Reminder – Arkansas Pharmacy Foundation

Golf Tournament – Thursday, April 17th

The Arkansas Pharmacy Foundation’s Annual Golf Tournament will be held Thursday, April 17th at Mountain Ranch Golf Course in Fairfield Bay.  Mountain Ranch has been ranked the #1 Resort Course in Arkansas by Golf Digest.  The tournament helps to raise money for a scholarship for a deserving pharmacy student.  There are several teams still available for this year’s tournament.  If you are interested in getting a team together, please call the Arkansas Pharmacists Association at  501-372-5250.