Earlier this month, NCMB began mailing letters to more than 3,200 physicians and PAs who appear to be writing opioid prescriptions but have not yet registered with the state prescription drug management system.
A provision of the NC STOP Act of 2017 that took effect in July 2021 requires prescribers to check a patient's 12 month prescription history with the NC Controlled Substances Reporting System (NC CSRS) before issuing a prescription for Schedule II or Schedule III opioid painkillers. Only registered users can access NC CSRS.
The NC Department of Health and Human Services provided NCMB with the names of licensed physicians and PAs who appear not to be in compliance with the so-called "mandatory use" provision of the STOP Act. NCMB has not opened investigations based on the data, but has taken the step of contacting licensees who do not appear to be registered for NC CSRS to raise awareness and encourage compliance.
Register for NC CSRS here.
Please do not contact NCMB with questions about NC CSRS. If you need assistance registering, call 984-236-5000. If you believe NC CSRS has your registration status recorded incorrectly, email CSRS.Utilization@dhhs.nc.gov
NCMB is sending letters in batches to unregistered licensees who, based on NC DHHS data, have issued a prescription for a Schedule II or Schedule III opioid since mandatory use went into effect last summer. The mailings will continue until all of the just over 3,200 licensees on the list provided to NCMB have been advised of their obligation to register for NC CSRS.
NCMB has also been provided a larger data set of licensees who may not be complying with the STOP Act's requirement to check patients' prescription histories prior to prescribing a Schedule II or Schedule III opioid. Due to concerns about the accuracy of the list, NCMB is not currently using the data to enforce compliance. NCMB is continuing to work with NC DHHS to improve the accuracy of its compliance report.
