On December 29, rule 4729-5-30 of the Ohio Administrative Code goes into effect. This rule requires prescribers (except for veterinarians) to indicate the first four alphanumeric characters of the ICD-10-CM medical diagnosis code (ex. M16.5) or the Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature (CDT code) on all opioid analgesic prescriptions.
The diagnosis/procedure code requirements are effective for all opioid prescriptions beginning Friday, December 29, 2017. The requirements for all other controlled substances go into effect on Friday, June 1, 2018.
The rule also requires prescribers to include the days’ supply (i.e. minimum number of days) that the prescription for a controlled substance or gabapentin should last the patient. This requirement goes into effect on Friday, December 29, 2017.
The rule also makes changes to the requirements for written, faxed, and electronic prescriptions. Except in limited circumstances, prescribers can no longer transmit prescriptions using a transmission system that converts the prescription into a computer-generated fax or scanned image. For more information on the exceptions, visit the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy’s (SOBP) website.