Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances (EPCS)

On March 31, 2010, DEA's Interim Final Rule with Request for Comment titled "Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances" [Docket No. DEA-218, RIN 1117-AA61] was published in the Federal Register. The rule became effective June 1, 2010.

The rule revises DEA regulations to provide practitioners with the option of writing prescriptions for controlled substances electronically.  The regulations also permit pharmacies to receive, dispense, and archive these electronic prescriptions.  These regulations are an addition to, not a replacement of, the existing rules.  The regulations provide pharmacies, hospitals, and practitioners with the ability to use modern technology for controlled substance prescriptions while maintaining the closed system of controls on controlled substances.

Federal Register Notices

• Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances Clarification (October 19, 2011)
  • PDF Version
• Interim Final Rule with Request for Comment:  Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances (March 31, 2010)
  • PDF Version
  • Economic impact Analysis of the Interim Final Rule (PDF)
  • Risk Assessment for the Interim Final Rule (PDF)

Third Party Reviews of Prescriber or Pharmacy EPCS Applications

• Third Party Reviews of Prescriber or Pharmacy EPCS Applications
  • Approved Certification Processes

Outreach, Questions and Answers

• Letter to Electronic Application Providers and Pharmacy Application Providers (April 2, 2010)
• DEA letter to affected associations (March 26, 2010)
• Questions and Answers
  • General Questions and Answers
  • For Prescribing Practitioners
  • For Pharmacies
  • For Providers of Electronic Prescription Applications, Pharmacy Applications, and Intermediaries

Historical documents

• Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances - Correction (July 14, 2008)
• Proposed Rule: Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances (June 27, 2008)
  • Initial Economic Impact Analysis of the Proposed Electronic Prescription Rule (PDF)

Public meetings

• EPCS Public Meeting Arlington, VA ( July 11-12, 2006)
• Pharmacists’ Working Group (May 2, 2002)
• Working Group Meeting (February 22, 2001)
• Working Group Meeting (November 16, 2000)