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EPCS & Gabapentin

Bugs, Known Issues, Open Cases

Last Post by Anonymous 1 second ago

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cstephenson

(@cstephenson)

Posts: 33

Trusted Member

Topic starter

We are new to EPCS and noticed this morning that CPS (or Surescripts?) does not recognize Gabapentin as a controlled substance. We are unable to transmit this medication electronically. Does anyone have information about this?

Posted : February 3, 2020 2:56 am

jennfranco

(@jennfranco)

Posts: 24

Eminent Member

Why can't you just electronically prescribe it like you would a non-controlled substance? That works for us.

Posted : February 3, 2020 3:45 am

cstephenson

(@cstephenson)

Posts: 33

Trusted Member

Topic starter

Because it is a controlled substance and you can't e-scribe those medications. Since the class of this medication changed to a schedule V last year, it either has to be written, faxed or called to the pharmacy.

Posted : February 3, 2020 4:04 am

cstephenson

(@cstephenson)

Posts: 33

Trusted Member

Topic starter

When attempting to escribe this medication, the following error alert occurs: "Failed transmission eprescribing acknowledgement - controlled substance must have a DEA schedule populated in medication P message ID.

Posted : February 3, 2020 4:06 am

jennfranco

(@jennfranco)

Posts: 24

Eminent Member

I just did a search and we have surescripts electronic prescribing and implemented EPCS last month. One of my providers sent this script on Friday without issue.

I am not sure the issue. We are in Massachusetts.

Medication	GABAPENTIN 300 MG ORAL CAPSULE
Acknowledgement	000: Surescripts Accepted

Medication: GABAPENTIN 300 MG ORAL CAPSULE; Qty: 30 Refills: 0

Ordered: 30-Jan-2020@1643
Signed/Transmitted: 30-Jan-20@1643

Posted : February 3, 2020 4:34 am

jessicaw

(@jessicaw)

Posts: 434

Prominent Member

We have run into this issue with a couple of other prescriptions. Surescripts/EMR uses the list of Federally controlled drugs to prompt the user for the required two factor authentication. Gabapentin is not considered a controlled substance federally but apparently is in your state. So unfortunately the EMR appears to let you send it electronically but once it hits the pharmacy it is bounced back because you did not provide the two factor authentication required for that drug in your state.

Our clinic is located in Iowa and while we do not have this issue with Gabapentin we do experience this with any medications containing Butalbital, Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine and Suphedrine. We have to call the pharmacy that the patient is using and ask them what other prescribing method they will accept for these drugs.

I opened a case when we first experienced this error and Athenahealth confirmed that we are receiving this error because the medications are considered controlled in our state but not at a federal level.

Posted : February 3, 2020 5:32 am

cstephenson

(@cstephenson)

Posts: 33

Trusted Member

Topic starter

Thank you Jessica. This has been very helpful (albeit frustrating) information. We received notice that many pharmacies are adopting mandatory EPCS early to prepare for the 1/1/21 deadline. Effective March 1st for Optum Rx, EPCS will be mandatory for controlled substances. If we can't call it in, fax a prescription or escribe it, how are these patients supposed to get their medication??

Again, thanks for your help. We've reached out to our VAR for guidance.

Posted : February 3, 2020 6:24 am

jessicaw

(@jessicaw)

Posts: 434

Prominent Member

Your welcome. We are fortunate enough to be located in a smaller community where most of our pharmacies are understanding. Most have allowed us to use other methods and then they just mark these specific prescriptions as "exempt due to technology" in their systems. Hopefully the pharmacies your patients use will also be understanding. It's not that we don't want to comply, it's that technology prevents us from doing so.

Posted : February 3, 2020 7:36 am

BrianAPHN

(@brianaphn)

Posts: 106

Estimable Member

Try this. Remove the Gabapentin form the patients medication list and re-added. I have seen this same issue with Ativan and Adderall. It appears to be coded, but the medication information must have changed on a KB update on the Sure Scripts side.

We have had issues with a couple of compound medications not working but I haven't seen a problem with Gabapentin.

Brian

Posted : February 10, 2020 4:34 am

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