Medicaid Rule for Tamper Proof Prescriptions Delayed

VCAL (11/2/07)

Congress approved a measure that delays the start of a new rule requiring all Medicaid prescriptions to be written on tamper-proof paper.  The new Medicaid rule will now be effective on April 1, 2008, instead of October 1, 2007.  The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has clarified that non-written prescriptions, such as e-prescriptions, prescriptions transmitted to a pharmacy by fax, and prescriptions communicated by telephone are not subject to the new Medicaid rule.

In response to an NCAL question, CMS said, "a nurse or administrative staff person who is authorized to act on the prescriber's behalf may phone the pharmacy the order, send the order by facsimile, or electronically transmit the order to the pharmacy."