The deadline for federal e-prescribing mandates is just around the corner. Starting January 1st, 2022, providers are required to use their state’s prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) for prescribing controlled substances covered under Medicare and Medicaid. This according to the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (H.R. 6) passed in 2018.

In addition to the federal mandate, several states have e-prescribing mandates coming up.

Regardless of state and federal mandates, e-prescribing use among healthcare providers is growing every year.

E-prescribing increased in 2020 to 50 percent of all prescribed drugs, compared to 38 percent in 2019. Experts think this uptake is due to the social distancing measures that were put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

And social distancing may have accelerated the transition to e-prescribing for some doctors, but the long list of benefits is what’s keeping them interested.

From the doctor’s standpoint, e-prescribing solutions can facilitate the workflow when they provide integrated access to their state’s PDMP. They don’t need to log in to the PDMP database separately, they can do it all from one screen.

E-prescriptions also allow providers to see a patient’s medication history, which can better inform their prescribing decisions and care plans.

From the patient’s perspective, e-prescriptions can save a lot of time. With e-prescriptions, patients don’t have to make several trips to each provider to collect paper prescriptions. They also protect patients who might be vulnerable to developing a substance abuse problem, and can help providers detect prescription fraud.

How to get ready for e-prescribing mandates

TotalMD has the perfect e-prescribing solution that makes providers’ lives easier and helps them make a seamless transition to e-prescriptions.

With TotalMD’s EPCS system, doctors can write and send electronic prescriptions from any computer or mobile device with an internet connection. Additionally, doctors can use TotalMD’s e-prescribing solution to verify the patient isn’t already getting meds from another provider.

Contact us for more information about our e-prescribing solutions or send us an email at sales@totalmd.com.