The provision of the STOP Act of 2017 that requires certain controlled substances to be prescribed electronically takes effect Jan. 1, 2020. As that date draws nearer, NCMB continues to hear from numerous licensees with questions and concerns.

First and foremost, it is essential that licensees who prescribe any Schedule II or Schedule III opioids, or certain other controlled substances such a buprenorphine, understand that Jan. 1 is a firm effective date. There are some exemptions noted in the law, but no extensions to the effective date will be granted. Prescribers should be working diligentlytowards identifying and implementing a solution that enables them to e-prescribe and are expected to comply with the law.

Among the most-asked questions about e-prescribing is whether NCMB can assist prescribers with finding software or other solutions that comply with the new requirement. NCMB has not vetted any software solutions and cannot make a recommendation for these services, however, prescribers may select any tool that meets security requirements set by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

NCMB has developed FAQS to address this and other questions licensees and others have raised about the STOP Act’s e-prescribing provision on NCMB’s STOP Act resource page, www.ncmedboard.org/STOP. The FAQs offer some basic information on getting started with identifying a software solution.