New Tip Sheet for Controlled Substance Prescribing Now Available

August 24th, 2010

The AGS, in collaboration with a number of other societies, has developed a “Tip Sheet on Prescribing for Controlled Substances in Long Term Care.” The collaborating groups include the AMDA—Dedicated to Long Term Care Medicine (AMDA), the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM). 

The “Tip Sheet on Prescribing for Controlled Substances in Long Term Care was created to assist physicians and other prescribers in their efforts to meet DEA regulations for prescribing controlled substances to residents in long term care. The tip sheet was developed in light of recent enforcement actions by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents.

The tip sheet stresses that under current law, a prescriber must write the prescription him or herself. It further suggests ways prescribers can expedite filling of controlled substance prescriptions. These include always carrying a prescription pad that meets state requirements, knowing legal requirements for a controlled substance prescription, writing a prescription at a facility that has a fax machine and faxing the prescription to the provider pharmacy, purchasing a home fax for after hours and weekend calls, and—in emergency situations when faxing isn’t an option and a prescription pad is unavailable—calling the pharmacist directly with the order in addition to giving this information to the nurse. 

The other collaborating organizations are also disseminating the Tip Sheet and making it available via their member Web sites.  This week, AGS will be disseminating the tip sheet to its state affiliate leaders for dissemination to their members

Modified On: August 24th, 2010