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You are Here: Home Page > Narcotic Enforcement > Controlled Substance Update - Practitioners Newsletter December 2006  

Controlled Substance Update - Practitioners Newsletter December 2006

To: All New York State Practitioners

From: James Giglio, Director, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement

Date: December 2006

Subject: Controlled Substance and Official Prescription Program update

The Official Prescription Program and Electronic Prescribing

The new Public Health Law that went into full effect on April 19, 2006 made no changes to the requirements for electronic prescribing. Under parameters established by the New York State Board of Pharmacy, prescriptions for non-controlled substances may continue to be electronically transmitted to the pharmacy, either:

• from the practitioner's computer to the pharmacy's fax machine; or
• from the practitioner's computer to the pharmacy's computer.

Both transmissions are considered electronic prescribing, therefore it is not necessary for practitioners to utilize an official prescription. Electronic prescribing of controlled substances is not yet permissible.

Quantities Allowable on Controlled Substance Prescriptions

Prescriptions for controlled substances are limited to a 30-day supply. However, a practitioner may prescribe up to a three-month supply of a controlled substance, including human chorionic gonadotropin (hcg), or up to a six-month supply of an anabolic steroid for treatment of the following conditions:

Code A

Panic disorder

Code B

Attention deficit disorder

Code C

Chronic debilitating neurological conditions characterized as a movement disorder or exhibiting seizure, convulsive or spasm activity

Code D

Relief of pain in patients suffering from diseases known to be chronic and incurable

Code E

Narcolepsy

Code F

Hormone deficiency states in males; gynecologic conditions that are responsive with anabolic steroids or chorionic gonadotropin; metastatic breast cancer in women; anemia and angioedema

When prescribing more than a 30-day supply of a controlled substance to treat one of the above conditions, a practitioner must write on the face of the prescription either the condition or the Code designating the condition.

Controlled Substance Prescribing by Nurse Practitioners and Physician's Assistants

Licensed Nurse Practitioners (NPs) who are registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are authorized to prescribe schedule II, III, IV, and V controlled substances. A controlled substance prescription issued by a NP must contain the imprinted name of the NP but is not required to contain the imprinted name of the collaborating physician.

Licensed Physician's Assistants (PAs) who are registered with DEA may prescribe schedule III, IV, and V controlled substances if authorized by a supervising physician. A controlled substance prescription issued by a PA must contain the imprinted names of both the PA and the supervising physician. Physician's Assistants are not authorized to prescribe schedule II controlled substances.

The controlled substance law and regulations may be viewed online at: www.nyhealth.gov/professionals/narcotic/. Practitioners with questions about official prescriptions or controlled substances may contact the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement at (866) 811-7957 or online at: narcotic@health.state.ny.us.