EPCS

Electronic Prescribing for Controlled Substances (EPCS) is the process of creating, signing, and transmitting prescriptions for Schedule II through Schedule V controlled substances using certified electronic prescribing software. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) established EPCS regulations under 21 CFR Part 1311, allowing practitioners to move away from paper-based prescribing of controlled substances while maintaining strict security and audit requirements.

EPCS mandates a two-factor authentication process for prescribers. Before a controlled-substance prescription can be signed and transmitted, the practitioner must authenticate using two of three credential categories: something they know (such as a password), something they have (such as a hardware token or mobile device), and something they are (such as a biometric). This identity-proofing requirement helps prevent unauthorized prescribing and reduces the risk of prescription fraud.

The software used for EPCS must be certified by a DEA-approved third-party auditor and must maintain tamper-resistant audit logs. These logs record every action taken during the prescribing process, from creation through signature and transmission, providing a complete chain of custody for each controlled-substance prescription.

Adopting EPCS improves patient safety by enabling real-time checks against prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs), reducing opportunities for prescription forgery, and streamlining the prescribing workflow. Healthcare technology providers integrate EPCS capabilities alongside standard e-prescribing to deliver a unified digital prescribing experience for all medication types.