Electronic Prescribing
Mandatory Electronic Prescribing Effective March 27, 2016
Practitioners are mandated to electronically prescribe both controlled and non-controlled substances effective March 27, 2016. However, there are a number of exceptions in which a practitioner may issue an Official New York State prescription (ONYSRx) form, oral prescription or a fax of an ONYSRx.
General Information
Amendments to Title 10 NYCRR Part 80 Rules and Regulations on Controlled Substances have been adopted and became effective as final regulations on March 27, 2013. The amendments authorize a practitioner to issue an electronic prescription for controlled substances in Schedules II through V and allow a pharmacist to accept, annotate, dispense and electronically archive such prescriptions.
Additional Information
- Letter from the NYS Commissioner of Health to practitioners and pharmacists regarding a blanket waiver for additional exceptional circumstances related to electronic prescribing – April 30, 2024
- Letter from the NYS Commissioner of Health to practitioners and pharmacists regarding a blanket waiver of the electronic prescribing requirements for nursing homes and residential health care facilities – September 1, 2023
- Letter from the NYS Commissioner of Health to practitioners and pharmacists regarding a blanket waiver for additional exceptional circumstances related to electronic prescribing – March 20, 2023
- Letter from the NYS Commissioner of Health to practitioners and pharmacists regarding a blanket waiver of the electronic prescribing requirements for nursing homes and residential health care facilities – November 1, 2022
- Letter from the NYS Commissioner of Health to practitioners and pharmacists regarding a blanket waiver for additional exceptional circumstances related to electronic prescribing – March 14, 2022
- Letter from the NYS Commissioner of Health to practitioners and pharmacists regarding a blanket waiver of the electronic prescribing requirements for nursing homes and residential health care facilities – October 29, 2021
- Letter from the NYS Commissioner of Health to practitioners and pharmacists regarding a blanket waiver for additional exceptional circumstances related to electronic prescribing – March 23, 2021
- Letter from the NYS Commissioner of Health to practitioners and pharmacists regarding a blanket waiver of the electronic prescribing requirements for nursing homes and residential health care facilities – November 1, 2020
- Letter from the NYS Commissioner of Health to practitioners and pharmacists regarding a blanket waiver for additional exceptional circumstances related to electronic prescribing – August 25, 2020.
- Letter from the NYS Commissioner of Health to practitioners and pharmacists regarding a blanket waiver of the electronic prescribing requirements for nursing homes and residential health care facilities – October 29, 2019
- Letter from the NYS Commissioner of Health to practitioners and pharmacists regarding a blanket waiver for additional exceptional circumstances related to electronic prescribing – February 21, 2019
- Letter from the NYS Commissioner of Health to practitioners and pharmacists regarding a blanket waiver of the electronic prescribing requirements for nursing homes and residential health care facilities – November 1, 2018
- Practitioner Notification Process – Use of an Electronic Prescribing Exception (Revised September 30, 2016)
- Electronic Prescribing Exceptions – Dispensing Clarification for Pharmacists - April 2016
- Letter to Practitioners Regarding Electronic Prescribing Mandate – November 2015 (PDF)
- FAQs (PDF) - Updated November 2016 - Update to Practitioner Reporting Requirements 136-145
- Information regarding e-prescribing of non-controlled substances – NYSED
- New York State Regulations related to Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances
- Specific regulations pertaining to issuing electronic prescriptions for controlled substances may be accessed in 10 NYCRR 80.64
- U.S Department of Justice DEA Office of Diversion Control website.
- NYS Education Department regulations
Publications
- Electronic Prescribing is Now Available? (Poster) (PDF)
To order free copies of this poster send an email to OGS.SM.GDC@OGS.NY.GOV. Include your name, address including ZIP code, phone number, and quantity of posters desired - What is Electronic Prescribing? (Patient Brochure) (PDF). Also available in: Spanish, Italian, Korean, French, Russian, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Arabic, Polish
To order free copies of this brochure send an email to OGS.SM.GDC@OGS.NY.GOV. Include your name, address including ZIP code, phone number, and quantity of brochures desired - BNE Newsletter – Fall 2015 (PDF)
Practitioner Registration for EPCS
If you have met all federal security requirements and would like to register the application with the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, access the online application called ROPES.
Physician Assistant Registration for EPCS
Hospital Registration for EPCS
- Online registration process for hospitals (ROPES)
- Electronic Prescribing Important Notification to Hospitals — February 2015 (PDF)
Pharmacy Registration for EPCS
If you have met all federal security requirements and would like to register the application with the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, access the online application called ROPES.
- Online registration process for pharmacies (ROPES)
- Electronic Prescribing Important Notification to Pharmacies – October 2016 (PDF)
Electronic Prescribing Waivers or Certifications
Practitioners unable to electronically prescribe can either request a waiver from the requirement or submit a certification depending on their circumstances.
Public Health Law (PHL) Section 281(3) (c) states a waiver, or a renewal thereof, may be granted for a specified period determined by the Commissioner, not to exceed one year.
Public Health Law (PHL) Section 281(7) states a certification, or a renewal thereof, may be submitted by a practitioner issuing 25 prescriptions or less during a twelve month period.
