North Carolina News: Item 2186 - Progress of Drug Enforcement Administration's Controlled Substance Electronic Prescribing Rulemaking

July 1, 2009 3:55 pm Topics: Controlled substances and Electronic prescriptions

Reprinted from the July 2009 North Carolina Board of Pharmacy Newsletter.

As previously reported, in June 2008, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) proposed a rule that would permit electronic prescribing for all schedules of controlled substances. The public comment period on the rule closed in September 2008. Numerous pharmacists have inquired about the status of this proposed rule.

After receiving comments on the proposed rule, DEA must, by statute, review those comments and determine whether to: (a) adopt the rule as proposed; (b) alter the rule in response to comments received; or (c) withdraw the rule. The number of comments submitted concerning DEA’s proposed electronic controlled substance prescribing rule were, by all reports, voluminous. The process of reviewing and responding is likely to be a lengthy one. Board staff has heard some talk of a possible finalizing of the rule this fall, but this talk is not from any “official” channel.

In the meantime, DEA’s current position that electronic prescriptions for controlled substances are not permitted remains in place. More information may be found at the following link: www.ncbop.org/faqs/Phar
macist/faq_ElectronicRXs.htm.