Tamper Resistant Rx Pads Update
The AMCNO continues to hear from our members regarding the October 1st deadline for use of tamper resistant prescription pads in Ohio. (For previous stories on the this topic - see our 8/24 and 9/7 headlines.) In May of this year, Congress inserted a rule in a $120 billion Iraq spending bill cracking down on Medicaid fraud that requires that all non-electronic prescriptions for Medicaid patients be written on tamper-resistant paper. The rule was devised as a way to raise nearly $150 million over five years for public hospitals, the amount that Medicaid fraud costs the federal government. State Medicaid directors, and more than 100 organizations including the Academy of Medicine of Cleveland & Northern Ohio (AMCNO) have sent letters to congressional leaders asking for a delay to the rule. Under the rule, if a patient has a prescription on the wrong type of paper, pharmacists can fill it while seeking the prescriber's confirmation by phone, fax, e-mail or tamper-proof paper within three days. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) says that should protect patients from being denied needed drugs. Also, the CMS believes that the rule should help prevent overdoses and other problems caused by fraudulent prescriptions, Doctors, pharmacists and patient advocates say the new federal rule can't be implemented by Oct. 1. They warn that pharmacists could be forced to return Medicaid payments if they fill prescriptions improperly, and patients could be denied medications if the prescriptions aren't written on tamper-resistant pads. Twelve states already require the use of tamper-resistant pads in some instances, including for heavy-duty narcotics such as morphine and OxyContin. New York requires it for all prescriptions. 

Physicians interested in obtaining compliant prescription pads may want to contact the following vendors for more information:

MediScripts can provide pads for individual physicians in all specialties, except surgery, where special group requirements apply. They do NOT provide individual pads for APNs or PAs. Call them at 1-800-387-3636 for more information.

For those physicians who are used to printing their own prescriptions and prefer customized, non-commercial pads, another possible source is Rx Pads, Inc. This company has the tamper proof “security” pads that meet all the standards and offer pads in varying quantities with greater discounts the more you order. For example, they charge $33.95 plus shipping for 10 pads. For more information check their website at www.rxpads.com/2007/Index.aspx  or call 800-307-7717. 

ScriptShield is offering a 10% discount for its HologramRx scripts and 5% off of National RxSecurity script prices for pads ordered between now and the end of the year. To receive an order form, call either HologramRx at 1-866-356-1050 or 1-800-510-1050. or visit their website at www.scriptshield.com  or www.nationalrx.net .