A federal law that takes effect October 1 will require that all Medicaid prescriptions be written on tamper-resistant prescription pads. The new law, which was buried in a supplemental Iraq war spending bill passed earlier this year, is designed to make it more difficult for patients to illegally obtain controlled substances. Federal budget estimates indicate it will save $510 million in Medicaid prescription fraud over a 10-year period.

California law currently requires the use of secure prescription pads for Schedule II to V drugs.  This new law will require all physicians treating Medi-Cal and Healthy Families patients to use tamper-resistant pads for all outpatient prescription drugs, not just controlled substances. Phoned, faxed, or electronically transmitted prescriptions are not impacted by this new law.

CMA and others in organized medicine urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to delay implementation to allow physicians and pharmacists time to prepare for this substantial change. Unfortunately, CMS last week told state Medicaid directors that the law would take effect as scheduled on October 1.

CMA is very concerned that the short notice will lead to confusion among physicians and pharmacists, and negatively impact patient care and access to prescriptions. CMA is also concerned that the additional hassle and cost involved will force physicians to leave the Medi-Cal program, where access to care is already a problem. The association is working on federal urgency legislation to reverse the law or at least make it consistent with current state law. Stay tuned to CMA Alert for more details.

Physicians are reminded that CMA partner RxSecurity provides members with significant discounts on tamper-resistant prescription pads. CMA members get 15 percent off RxSecurity’s already low prices. Depending on the number of pads purchased, members pay as little as $2.55 per one-part pad (100 scripts per pad) or $4.16 per two-part pad (50 scripts per pad). Special pricing is available for hospitals, clinics, and other high-volume purchasers.

Contact: Elizabeth McNeil, 415/882-3176 or emcneil@cmanet.org.