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Tamper-Resistant
Prescription Frequently Asked Questions
What is tamper-resistant prescription paper
or pads?
What are industry-recognized features?
Is the Washington State law different
than the Medicaid Tamper-Resistant
Prescription Law?
Does the July 1, 2010 date refer to the
date the prescription is filled or written?
What if I am dispensing a refill on or
after the effective date, but the original
prescription was filled before July 1, 2010?
Who must comply?
How must they comply?
Are there exceptions in the law when
tamper-resistant prescription paper or pads
are not required?
Can the prescriber add features to the
prescription to make it compliant with the
requirements such as writing out the drug
quantities rather than just the number;
using indelible or gel ink; or using
embossed logos?
Will prescriptions printed from a
computer need to be on board approved
tamper-resistant prescription paper or pads?
Are tamper-resistant prescription pads or
paper required when over-the-counter
products are prescribed?
Do transferred prescriptions need to be
on tamper-resistant pads or paper?
Can a pharmacist dispense a prescription
written on faxed tamper-resistant pads or
paper where the “void” or “copy” security pantogram is activated?
Will the board approve print vendors who
meet the requirements?
What is the process for seeking
board-approval as a printer/supplier or
manufacturer of tamper-resistant
prescription paper or pads?
Where can I find a list of vendors that
provide board-approved tamper-resistant
prescription paper or pads?
What is tamper-resistant prescription paper
or pads?
Tamper-resistant prescription
paper or pads have one or more
industry-recognized feature to prevent:
- Unauthorized copying of a completed or
blank prescription form.
- Erasure or modification of information
written on the prescription by the
prescriber.
- Use of counterfeit prescription forms.
What are industry-recognized features?
The features have not been fully defined,
but examples include:
- The word “Void,” “Illegal,” or “Copy”
appearing when the prescription is
photocopied or faxed.
- A background consisting of a solid
color or pattern that is printed on the
paper. This stops a forger from physically
erasing written or printed information on a
prescription form.
- A complete list of the security
features on the prescription paper. This
aids pharmacists in identifying features and
determining compliance.
Is the Washington State law different
than the Medicaid Tamper-Resistant
Prescription Law?
Yes. The federal law implemented in 2008
required that all written prescriptions for
covered outpatient drugs that are paid for
by Medicaid be written on tamper-resistant
prescriptions.
RCW 18.64.500, states that beginning on
July 1, 2010 all prescriptions written in
Washington must be written on
tamper-resistant prescription paper of pads
approved by the Board of Pharmacy.
BDoes the July 1, 2010 date refer to the
date the prescription is filled or written?
The effective date refers to the date the
prescription is written.
What if I am dispensing a refill on or
after the effective date, but the original
prescription was filled before July 1, 2010?
The law applies to prescriptions written
on or after July 1, 2010. It does not apply
to refills for prescriptions written before
July 1, 2010.
Who must comply?
All practitioners with prescriptive and
dispensing authority must comply with this
law.
How must they comply?
Beginning July 1, 2010, all prescriptions
must be written on tamper-resistant paper
approved by the Board of Pharmacy.
Pharmacists cannot dispense a written
prescription unless it is written on board
approved prescription paper. A pharmacist
may provide emergency medications in
compliance with federal and state laws and
rules, and any applicable health care plan
restrictions and procedures.
There are exceptions included in the law
when tamper-resistant prescription paper is
not required.
Are there exceptions in the law when
tamper-resistant prescription paper or pads
are not required?
Yes. Tamper-resistant prescription pads
or paper are not required when:
- Prescriptions are transmitted to the
pharmacy electronically, by telephone or by
facsimile.
- Prescriptions are written for patients
in hospitals (whether in patient or as
out-patients), residents of nursing homes,
or inpatient or residents of a mental health
or correctional facilities, if the
prescriber writes the order into the
patient’s medical or clinical record, the
order or prescription is given directly to
the pharmacy, and the patient never has the
opportunity to handle the written order or
prescription.
If at any time the patient or patient’s
designee handles the written order or
prescription, the prescription must be on
approved tamper-resistant paper.
Can the prescriber add features to the
prescription to make it compliant with the
requirements such as writing out the drug
quantities rather than just the number;
using indelible or gel ink; or using
embossed logos?
No. The law requires all written
prescriptions be on tamper-resistant paper
or pads approved by the board. Features
added to the prescription after it is
printed do not meet the requirements.
Will prescriptions printed from a
computer need to be on board approved
tamper-resistant prescription paper or pads?
If a hard copy of an electronic
prescription is printed and given to the
patient or patient’s designee, the
manually-signed hard copy prescription must
be on approved tamper-resistant paper.
The law does not require prescriptions
transmitted to the pharmacy electronically,
by telephone or by facsimile to be on
board-approved tamper-resistant paper or
pad.
Are tamper-resistant prescription pads or
paper required when over-the-counter
products are prescribed?
Yes. Over-the-counter products written as
prescriptions must comply with the
tamper-resistant requirements.
Do transferred prescriptions need to be
on tamper-resistant pads or paper?
The pharmacy needs to receive a phone
call or fax from the other pharmacy that
originally received the prescription to
confirm its authenticity. The receiving
pharmacist is not required to get
confirmation of the original prescription
from the prescriber.
Can a pharmacist dispense a prescription
written on faxed tamper-resistant pads or
paper where the ″void″ or ″copy″ security
pantogram is activated?
Yes. The pharmacist must call the
prescriber to confirm the prescription’s
authenticity. This makes it a verbal
prescription. Documentation of the call will
bring the prescription into compliance.
Top of Page
Will the board approve print vendors who
meet the requirements?
Yes. The board developed a review process
for all vendor applicants. Vendors that meet
the requirements will be given the board’s
seal of approval. All prescriptions written
in Washington must have the seal.
What is the process for seeking
board-approval as a printer/supplier or
manufacturer of tamper-resistant
prescription paper or pads?
Tamper-Resistant Rx Review/Approval
Process
Your company must request approval if:
Your company provides the printed
tamper-resistant prescription or pads,
either directly or through a distributor, to
the prescriber.
Where can I find a list of vendors that
provide board-approved tamper-resistant
prescription paper or pads?
A list of vendors can be found on the
Washington State Board of Pharmacy’s Web
site beginning December 17, 2009. |
