Maryland: e-Prescribing of Controlled Substances
Get started with electronic prescribing for controlled substances (EPCS)
Practice Fusion’s certified e-prescribing for controlled substances (EPCS) feature is available in Maryland to help appropriately credentialed providers meet the state’s EPCS mandate.
Practice Fusion’s EPCS system:
- Is Surecript certified for Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances (CII-CV)
- Is fully integrated with your EHR and existing e-prescribing workflow
- Offers a streamlined process for identity verification to get you up and running quickly
- Provides Patient-specific Formularies and Drug & Allergy Interaction Checks
- Electronic Prior Authorizations (EPA)
- Comprehensive Reporting Modules
- Meets all DEA and Maryland PDMP requirements.
Practitioners authorized to prescribe CDS in Maryland must be registered with the PDMP. The ability to obtain a new or renewal CDS permit from the Maryland Office of Controlled Substances Administration (formerly Division of Drug Control) will be dependent on having registered with the PDMP. Registration occurs only once and if you have ever registered for PDMP access in the past, you meet the legal mandate and are compliant with the PDMP course of instruction requirement under the law.
The PDMP monitors only the prescribing and dispensing of drugs that contain Schedules II through V controlled dangerous substances (CDS). State and federal law define CDS as substances that have abuse potential. Drugs listed in CDS Schedules II, III, IV and V also have accepted medical uses. This includes opioid pain relievers like oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet, Percodan, Roxicet), hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab) and methadone prescribed for pain; anti-anxiety and sedative medications like alprazolam (Xanax) and diazepam (Valium); and stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin. The complete list of CDS in Maryland is found in Criminal Law Article, Title 5, Subtitle 4, Annotated Code of Maryland.
Integrating CRISP data within an Electronic Health Record (EHR) like Practice Fusion, provides a streamlined clinical workflow for providers. The EHR automatically initiates a patient query, validates the provider’s credentials in CRISP and returns the patient’s prescription record directly within the provider’s EHR. The integration should seamlessly fit into the clinical workflow and allow for real-time or near real-time presentation of CRISP data within the EHR.
To register for the Maryland PDMP, visit https://crisphealth.org/services/prescription-drug-monitoring-program-pdmp/pdmp-registration/
e-Prescribing allows a prescriber to use an EHR to:
- Electronically access a patient’s prescription benefit.
- Electronically access a patient’s medication history.
- Electronically route the prescription to the patient’s choice of pharmacy.
e-Prescribing provides the following consumer benefits:
- More accurate prescriptions.
- Improved patient safety.
- Lower healthcare costs for everyone involved.
e-Prescribing provides the following provider benefits:
- Reduction in pharmacy staff time.
- Increase in patient compliance and filled prescriptions.
- Improved relations with patients.
e-Prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS) allows a prescriber to:
- e-Prescribe scheduled drugs right from your EHR.
- Use one workflow for all prescriptions.
- Minimize patient wait times at pharmacies.
- Reduce unnecessary office visits.
Important Resources
Maryland PDMP Registration
Maryland Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
Maryland Prescription Drug Monitoring Program FAQs