NACDS, coalition members urge Congress to push CMS on e-prescribing compliance

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and 12 other health care entities are calling on Congress to ensure that CMS obeys the January 1, 2022 deadline for compliance with the electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS) requirement. NACDS and its allied organizations wrote a letter to lawmakers asking that CMS remain on schedule with the ECPS requirement. In the letter, the groups said it was urgent to implement the ECPS requirement on time in order to improve safety and security in the prescribing process, as well as curb the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs. The letter highlights the benefits of e-prescribing, including the time saved and reduced burden for patients who may otherwise need to take multiple trips to providers and pharmacies to fill prescriptions.