The regulation was mandated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Sandra Rozmarin, director of ambulatory care at SHC, said three exceptions to the new rules include:

Prescriptions FAXed to a pharmacy

Electronically transmitted prescriptions

Prescriptions communicated to the pharmacy by a physician on the telephone

Tamper-resistant forms, also referred to as secure forms, include forms approved in 2005 for Schedule II –V medication prescriptions. These forms may now also be used for non-controlled medications to meet the new rules.

Pharmacies have been instructed not to accept and fill prescriptions after April 1 that are written on forms that are not tamper-resistant. Failure to comply with the new requirement can result in lengthy delays for patients to obtain needed medications, Rozmarin said.