High percent of New York doctors implementing electronic prescriptions

Surescripts, a nationwide health information network, has provided new data showing that more than 48,000 providers in New York have turned to technology to help fight prescription fraud and abuse.

The number of New York providers that have instituted electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS) has increased 28 percent since March 1. There is a March 27 deadline for providers to comply with the Internet System for Tracking Over Prescribing (I-STOP) directive that requires electronic prescribing.

New York doctors are way ahead of the rest of the nation, with 47 percent of them instituting EPCS as opposed to 8 percent in the rest of the United States. This is a drastic improvement in relation to a year ago, when only 2 percent of providers in New York were ready. Now, nearly all pharmacies have adopted the use of technology, with 95 percent of establishments in New York ready to receive electronic prescriptions for controlled substances.

The significant jump in percentages was made due to the certification of technology by electronic health record (EHR) software vendors. The certification is required for prescribers to begin use of the technology.