Starting tomorrow, the first phase of the new requirement on the use of tamper-resistant prescription pads in the Medicaid program will go into effect.
To be considered “tamper-resistant,” such prescription pads must contain at least one of the following three characteristics by April 1, 2008, and all three characteristics by Oct. 1, 2008: one or more industry-recognized features designed to prevent unauthorized copying of a completed or blank prescription form; one or more industry-recognized features designed to prevent the erasure or modification of information written on the prescription pad by the prescriber; one or more industry-recognized features designed to prevent the use of counterfeit prescription forms.
States are free to exceed the baseline standard as to what constitutes a tamper-resistant prescription pad. Each state Medicaid agency has issued its own guidance on this requirement, and this information can be obtained by contacting the state Medicaid agencies. Read the fact sheet.
