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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    Notifications

    Per Act 96 of 2018 (the Act), prescribers, excluding veterinarians, are required to issue electronic prescriptions for Schedule II-V controlled substances as of October 24, 2019, unless they meet an exception in the Act or in regulations. The Department of Health (Department) is currently in the process of promulgating EPCS regulations in accordance with the Act.  

    While the Department works to finalize and promulgate regulations, it is accepting petitions for temporary exemptions from the requirements in the Act for prescribers who do not meet an exception in the Act. These temporary exemptions are subject to approval by the Department and are preliminary in nature.

    Prescribers will be expected to comply with the Act once regulations are promulgated by the Department. Prescribers can be compliant by electronically prescribing controlled substances, meeting a statutory exception, or by receiving approval of an exemption from the Department. The Department will notify prescribers of relevant deadlines in advance of the effective date of regulations. Additionally, the Department will widely distribute educational information on the electronic prescribing of controlled substances and the regulations once they are finalized.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    For more information, including a full list of statutory exceptions, please view our Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances FAQs (last updated: June 2024)

    Temporary Exemption

    While the department works to promulgate regulations, it is accepting petitions for temporary exemptions from the requirements in Act 96. These temporary exemptions are subject to approval by the Department and are preliminary in nature, pending final publishing of regulations as stated in Section 11(b.6) of the Act. To submit a petition for temporary exemption, please fill out the Act 96 of 2018 Temporary Exemption Form