Electronic prescribing for controlled substances (EPCS) refers to the prescriber's ability to electronically transmit an accurate, error-free, and understandable prescription for controlled substances directly to a pharmacy from the point-of-care.

 

Practitioners issuing electronic prescriptions for controlled substances (EPCS) must use a software application that meets all Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) requirements. EPCS has many benefits such as improved patient safety and workflow efficiencies, fraud deterrence, adherence management, and reduced burden.

 

Fill out the form below to add electronic prescribing for controlled substances (EPCS). 
 

It will take a minimum of 72 hours (working hours) to activate the service in the system.

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There are currently 5 schedules which require an EPCS Service License, and their meanings are as follows:
 

• Schedule I: Drugs with no current medical use with high potential for abuse and/or addiction.

• Schedule II: Drugs with some medically acceptable uses, but with high potential for abuse and/or addiction. These drugs can be obtained through prescription.

• Schedule III: Drugs with low to moderate potential for abuse and/or addiction, but less dangerous than Schedule I or II. These drugs can be obtained through prescription, but generally are not available over the counter.

• Schedule IV: Drugs with viable medical use and low probability of use or misuse.

• Schedule V: Drugs with low potential for abuse (lower than Schedule IV).

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The classification of controlled substances is defined through the Contolled Substances Act (CSA) in accordance with scientific and medical findings under the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) under 21 U.S.C. § 811 of the CSA.