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Mandatory Electronic Prescribing for Controlled Substances in Health Plans by 2025

This Act mandates that starting January 1, 2025, group and individual health plans must require participating providers to electronically transmit prescriptions for Schedule II-V controlled substances. The goal is to enhance safety and reduce fraud related to these medications. Crucially, the law includes exceptions for technological failures, hospice care, and public health emergencies, ensuring that valid non-electronic prescriptions are still covered and dispensed by pharmacies.
Key points
Health plans must enforce electronic prescribing for controlled substances (Schedules II-V) by participating doctors starting January 1, 2025.
Exceptions apply for patients in hospice care, nursing facilities, or during temporary technical outages, allowing non-electronic prescriptions in these cases.
Insurers cannot deny coverage or reimbursement for a valid prescription solely because it was issued in a non-electronic format under an allowed exception.
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Additional Information
Print number: 118_S_2666
Sponsor: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
Process start date: 2023-07-27
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Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-09-2025
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

EPCS 2.0 Act

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 118_S_2666.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the Senate.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2023-07-27.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Health plans must enforce electronic prescribing for controlled substances (Schedules II-V) by participating doctors starting January 1, 2025.
  • Exceptions apply for patients in hospice care, nursing facilities, or during temporary technical outages, allowing non-electronic prescriptions in these cases.
  • Insurers cannot deny coverage or reimbursement for a valid prescription solely because it was issued in a non-electronic format under an allowed exception.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Introduced in Senate

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-26.

CATEGORIES

Health