NCPDP SCRIPT
NCPDP SCRIPT is the national standard for electronically transmitting prescription data between prescribers, pharmacies, and payers in the United States.
NCPDP SCRIPT is a messaging standard developed by the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) for the electronic exchange of prescription information. It defines the format, content, and structure of messages used to transmit new prescriptions, refill requests, prescription changes, cancellations, and fill status notifications between prescribers, pharmacies, and intermediaries.
The standard supports a wide range of transaction types, including NewRx (new prescription), RxRenewalRequest and RxRenewalResponse (refill authorization), RxChangeRequest and RxChangeResponse (therapeutic interchange and formulary alternatives), CancelRx (prescription cancellation), and RxFill (dispensing notification). Each transaction type has a well-defined XML schema that ensures consistent data exchange across disparate systems.
NCPDP SCRIPT is mandated under the Medicare Part D e-prescribing program and is required by many state regulations. The current widely adopted version, SCRIPT 2017071, introduced support for structured and codified SIG (patient instructions) using the Federal Medication Terminologies standard, which improves clarity and reduces medication errors caused by ambiguous directions.
For healthcare technology platforms, supporting NCPDP SCRIPT is essential for interoperability with the broader e-prescribing ecosystem. Implementing the standard allows prescription management systems to communicate seamlessly with pharmacy dispensing systems, payer adjudication platforms, and prescription benefit managers, forming the backbone of the electronic prescribing infrastructure.
Keywords
Related Terms
Digital Prescription
A medical prescription created, signed, and transmitted digitally between a healthcare provider and pharmacy, replacing traditional paper prescriptions.
Electronic Prescribing
The process of creating and transmitting prescriptions electronically using computer-based systems instead of handwritten prescriptions.
EPCS
Electronic Prescribing for Controlled Substances (EPCS) is a DEA requirement enabling practitioners to write and transmit prescriptions for Schedule II-V drugs electronically.
Prescription Routing
The process of directing prescriptions to the appropriate pharmacy or pharmacy network based on patient preference, insurance coverage, or clinical requirements.
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