Featuring posts written by the DoseSpot e-Prescribing Integration Team!

Dental Associates Realizes Clinical Efficiencies and Increased Patient Satisfaction with DoseSpot’s e-Prescribing of Controlled Substances Solution

Posted: September 13th, 2016 | Author: | Filed under: Basics, Controlled Substances, Dental | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

Dental Associates, a leading family group dental practice managing 14 dental clinics and over 100 dentists in Wisconsin, has realized clinical efficiencies and increased patient satisfaction since their launch of DoseSpot’s e-Prescribing of Controlled Substances (EPCS) solution in March of 2015.

Prior to the launch of DoseSpot’s e-Prescribing of Controlled Substances solutions, Dental Associates had deployed e-Prescribing software, but their dentists could only transmit non-controlled prescriptions electronically. As such, dentists wasted time electronically prescribing antibiotics and subsequently printing controlled substance prescriptions. DoseSpot now marries the two and gives Dental Associates’ dentists the ability to streamline care, spend more time with patients and discontinue the use of costly prescription printers and the associated tamper proof prescription paper.

Click here to learn how your company can simplify clinical workflows with e-Prescribing!

“We understand that healthcare technology is shifting and remaining innovative is in Dental Associates’ best interest. Our dentists find DoseSpot to be top-notch and they’re now able to spend more time with their patients rather than running back and forth between the patient’s chair and the prescription printer,” commented Donald Whamond, Chief Technology Officer, Dental Associates. “Printing prescriptions was not only wasting time and money, but also taking valuable time away from the provider-patient relationship.”

Dental Associates chose DoseSpot as its e-Prescribing partner due to DoseSpot’s unique boutique-style approach to customer service, the ease of e-Prescribing controlled and non-controlled prescriptions, and to enhance the overall security measures surrounding the prescription writing process within Dental Associates’ clinics.

“DoseSpot has made writing prescriptions easier and less time consuming. With the development of my prescription favorites list, it is easy for my staff and I to build a prescription and even change it if need be. Once the prescription is built, it is simple to select and send the prescription to the pharmacy. Life is good with DoseSpot!” said Dr. John Zweig, Chief Dental Officer, Dental Associates.

Register today for our free webinar addressing dentistry and the opioid epidemic on 9/22!

Dental Associates also wanted to stay ahead of the IT curve which in turn has allowed the company to better recruit and attract new dentists.

“Dental Associates prides itself on the patient-centric care model, therefore our patients’ well-being is of utmost priority and DoseSpot simply aligns with our company values,” Whamond added. “We can call any DoseSpot team member at any time and know they will answer right away. That includes Greg Waldstreicher, CEO, DoseSpot.”

“Like Dental Associates, DoseSpot is committed to offering innovative solutions to the dental market and we put our partners first in everything we do,” said Greg Waldstreicher. “To have the opportunity to deliver a comprehensive, personalized, and integrated platform for Dental Associates is a homerun for both parties.”

Simplify clinical workflows and improve patient outcomes with DoseSpot e-Prescribing integration for both controlled and non-controlled prescriptions. Schedule your free demo today at www.DoseSpot.com or contact Shauna Leighton, Shauna@DoseSpot.com.

About Dental Associates

Founded in 1973, Dental Associates is Wisconsin’s largest family-owned dental group practice with multiple clinics throughout the state and nearly 800 staff members. Dental Associates provides complete family dental services, both general and specialty dentistry, under one roof, from pediatric dentistry to specialized dental services for older adults with a focus on excellent care that is affordable, accessible and personalized. For additional information please visit www.DentalAssociates.com.

About DoseSpot

DoseSpot is a Surescripts™ certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic health record, electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions to healthcare IT companies since 2009. For more information, please visit www.DoseSpot.com.


Steering the Path to Change: Dentistry’s Role in Addressing the Opioid Epidemic

Posted: September 7th, 2016 | Author: | Filed under: Basics, Controlled Substances, Dental | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

In recognition of Pain Awareness Month, DoseSpot will be hosting a live webinar to discuss:

  • Our nation’s current opioid epidemic by the numbers
  • Dentists’ roles regarding prescribing habits and how they can help steer the path to change
  • The face of addiction: understanding how prescription opioids from a dentist can fuel a painful, and often fatal, battle for patients
  • The path ahead including state mandates, PDMPs, e-Prescribing, and other helpful tools to properly educate and promote safe prescribing habits within dental practices

Presenters:

Greg Waldstreicher, CEO, DoseSpot

Dr. John Zweig, Chief Dental Officer, Dental Associates

Donald Whamond, Chief Technology Officer, Dental Associates

Jason Wolan, Director of EHR Implementation, Great Expressions Dental Centers

Daniel Smelter, Director of Business Analysis, Benevis, Inc.

Register now to reserve your spot! We hope you can join us.

About DoseSpot

DoseSpot is a Surescripts certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic health record, electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions to healthcare IT companies since 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.DoseSpot.com.


The Insider Threat: The Dentist

Posted: August 25th, 2016 | Author: | Filed under: Basics, Controlled Substances, Dental, In the News, Security | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

In our last installment of the Insider Threat series, we look to fellow dentists within a dental practice as a potential risk for prescription fraud. How, or better yet why, would a dentist commit such a crime if they are lawfully allowed to authorize prescriptions for their patients? With the opioid epidemic upon us, it’s an unfortunate reality that individuals dealing with a substance abuse issue will go to great lengths to obtain such substances. These drugs do not discriminate regardless of one’s socioeconomic status and sadly, that includes those whom are meant to help combat this crisis: dentists and doctors.

Dr. Joseph Gorfien, a partner at a dental practice in Florida, utilized a fellow dentist’s professional license information and paper prescription pad to forge and fill prescriptions for Oxycodone without his partner’s knowledge. Gorfien took advantage of not only his own position’s authority, but his partner’s as well.

Dr. Mark Horowitz, although being investigated for a multitude of bad behaviors, had a suspended license and decided to utilize a fellow dentist’s prescription pad to obtain 130 pills of Oxycodone for personal use. The dentist in which he stole from only worked in that particular office one day per week and left his prescription pad readily available for anyone to swipe. Horowitz forged the prescriptions as well as the other dentist’s signature.

If a dentist is not utilizing another dentist’s DEA number for their own personal or financial gain, they may be abusing the professional relationships with those that they employ. Dr. Maurice Zybler, a dentist in Massachusetts, was recently accused of fraud because he was using his employees to acquire pain medications for more than a decade. He used his ability as a dentist to prescribe pain killers for his own personal use and wrote fraudulent prescriptions in his employee’s names in which they would fill and return back to him. If they didn’t fill the prescriptions, they expected to be fired.

 Click here to learn more about e-Prescribing and start saving time and money today!

While most dentists are generally aware of potential theft of DEA numbers or prescription pads from patients or staff, they may not question their equivalent peers. A recent survey conducted by Dentist’s Money Digest, further proves this state of ignorance. Nearly one in three dentists claim that they are personally aware of a dentist colleague with a painkiller problem and 65% said they see opioid abuse as a “minor” problem, while another 28% said it is a “significant, but not pressing” issue.

“However, dentists’ roles in the opioid epidemic extend beyond the prescription pad. Many dentists end up addicted themselves. Addiction can stem from stress, personal issues, or simply the access healthcare workers have to such drugs.” Dentist Money Digest

The role of dentists, or any healthcare provider for that matter, within this opioid epidemic is crucial to the success of overcoming this crisis. Not only should dentists consider establishing office policies that can prevent or mitigate the diversion of opioids, but should also partake in ongoing education initiatives regarding responsible practices for prescribing such substances. With colleagues suffering from their own substance abuse issues, assistance, respect and understanding should be of utmost priority, regardless of any role within a dental practice and especially with the perceived stigma associated with addiction.

As part of these policies, dentists should consider e-Prescribing as a beneficial tool to safeguard their prescriptions from patients, staff and fellow dentists. Since e-Prescribing requires the entry of two unique passcodes for controlled substances, it will diminish the element of risk pertaining to stolen prescription pads and DEA numbers that are left out in the open for anyone to take. Furthermore, e-Prescribing is a proven method to help curb the opioid dilemma relative to doctor shopping and places a checks and balances system on prescribing behaviors. The benefits are exceedingly visible and with 3-9% of opioid abusers using forged written prescriptions, it’s a commonsense solution.

We hope you enjoyed our Insider Threat series and that it has given you informative, yet eye-opening insight into the potential threats your dental practice may harbor. This is not to say that employees or dentists cannot be trusted, but with 58% of dentists falling victim to prescription fraud, a change must occur for the safety and wellbeing of a dental practice, as well as their patients.

Sources: University of Kentucky; Boston.com; SunSentinel; prweb; Dentist’s Money Digest

About DoseSpot

DoseSpot is a Surescripts certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic health record, electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions to healthcare IT companies since 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.DoseSpot.com


The Insider Threat: The Assistants

Posted: August 23rd, 2016 | Author: | Filed under: Basics, Controlled Substances, Dental, In the News, Security | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

As we continue our Insider Threat series, we look to the role of the assistants within a dental practice. Specifically, the office assistant and the dental assistant. Though their responsibilities may vary from one practice to another, as well as from each other, assistants are often tasked with a myriad of similar duties, including having access to a dentist’s prescription pad or prescription software. The dental assistant, in particular, serves as a direct extension to the dentist and typically writes or calls in prescriptions on the dentist’s behalf.

Though the perceived trusting relationship between a dentist and their assistant(s) may alleviate the daily mundane tasks for the dentist, how much trust is too much? Should a dentist’s prescription pad or prescription software really be that accessible to anyone within the office? Let’s take a deeper dive and review three cases of prescription fraud committed by an office or dental assistant.

First up, in a West Michigan dental office, an office assistant decided to stay after hours and throw a party for some friends. Not only were multiple items stolen, but her friends utilized the dentist’s DEA number to call in and obtain unauthorized prescriptions from multiple pharmacies. Of the items stolen were the dentist’s prescription pad and signature stamp, of which, both were laying around in plain sight and available for anyone to take.

Another office assistant in Bethlehem, PA, whom had free access to a dentist’s prescription pad, admitted to taking two prescription slips, filling them out in the dentist’s name and authorizing 10 Percocet tablets on each for a family member. Not only were the unauthorized prescriptions filled, but the quantity dispensed was altered from 10 to 20 pills, which is easy to do given that they were paper prescriptions.

Lastly, a dental assistant in Alaska was found guilty of prescription fraud for phoning in numerous prescriptions for Vicodin on behalf of the dentist for a non-patient. In her capacity working in the dental office, she was allowed to call in prescriptions for patients, but took complete advantage of that authority. The pharmacist found the situation to be suspicious and contacted the dentist, whom confirmed that he had never authorized such prescriptions.

While the saying “any publicity is good publicity” may work in certain situations, bad press for a local dentist can be extremely detrimental. All three articles pertaining to the stories above include the dentist’s name and practice location, therefore there is no real way to hide from such unfortunate circumstances and stories like these have the potential to deter both current and prospective patients from a dental practice.

Luckily with e-Prescribing, there is no more need for paper prescriptions, therefore no more altered dispense quantities and no more stolen prescription pads. Furthermore, prescriptions will no longer need to be phoned in since it’s a simple click to send a prescription on its way to the pharmacy with no intermediary. A significant decline will also occur relative to the rate of fraud, resale and abuse of controlled substances because e-Prescribing secures all information exchanges from diversion.

 Click here to learn more about e-Prescribing and start saving time and money today!

This is not to say that assistants cannot aid a dentist with their patient’s prescriptions, quite the opposite in fact. When utilizing DoseSpot and with a dentist’s permission, office and dental assistants can receive their own e-Prescribing account and create prescriptions on behalf of the dentist. However, the dentist must utilize their own unique security passcodes to authorize and send the prescriptions along to the pharmacy, which is especially important when prescribing controlled substances.

To complete our Insider Threat series, we will be discussing how it’s not only office staff, but also fellow dentists, who can be a potential risk for prescription fraud within a dental practice. Look out for our next installment coming to you on Thursday, August 25th!

Sources: Juneau Empire; Wood TV; WFMZ

About DoseSpot

DoseSpot is a Surescripts certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic health record, electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions to healthcare IT companies since 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.DoseSpot.com


The Insider Threat: The Office Manager

Posted: August 18th, 2016 | Author: | Filed under: Basics, Controlled Substances, Dental, In the News, Security | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

To kick off our Insider Threat series, we shine light on dental practice Office Managers and the trusting relationship they share with dentists. After all, the office manager is meant to be the dentists’ point person who relieves them of administrative and financial duties within the office. Therefore, when it comes to the clinical management of patients, how much control should office managers have? Should office managers have access to the dentist’s prescription pad or prescription software?

Let’s take a look at Nicole Allenton, a now ex dental practice office manager in Washington state whom is serving one year in county jail for forging numerous prescriptions. Utilizing the office’s practice management software, Allenton took advantage of her position of trust and authority to print and fill 15 unauthorized pain medication prescriptions for herself and family members. None of whom were the dentist’s patients and sadly, this wasn’t her first time committing prescription fraud. She previously worked as a dental hygienist in another dental office and pulled off another non-sophisticated scheme to receive pain medication prescriptions simply by phoning the pharmacy “on behalf” of the dentist.

How could this possibly happen, you ask? Regardless of the trust factor, or lack thereof, the computer software in which the dental office deployed was not equipped to handle e-Prescribing. Although prescriptions were entered into the computer system, they could not be transmitted electronically to the pharmacy – they had to be printed, thus giving Allenton a perfect opportunity to take advantage of her superior’s handy DEA number and signature.

 Click here to learn more about e-Prescribing and start saving time and money today!

With written, printed or phoned in prescriptions, there are no checks and balances in place. Since e-Prescribing requires two-factors of authentication for controlled substances, Allenton wouldn’t have been able to forge any prescriptions since a dentist must enter two unique passcodes, including a 6 digit passcode that changes every 30 seconds. Furthermore, e-Prescribing provides a fully electronic audit trail which gives dentists complete insight into all of their prescription activity.

The aftermath pertaining to this case is substantial and it’s safe to say that the price to pay for not controlling prescription access is no laughing matter. Not only did Allenton end up behind bars, but as a result of her actions the two offices in which she was employed experienced severe financial repercussions and one office had to close its doors altogether.

Unfortunately, there are many instances in which a dental office employee has committed prescription fraud. As we will uncover in our next two cases, the office manager isn’t the only potential Insider Threat. Stay tuned for our next case, The Assistants, coming to you on Tuesday, August 23rd!

Sources: Tri-City Herald; News Talk

About DoseSpot

DoseSpot is a Surescripts certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic health record, electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions to healthcare IT companies since 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.DoseSpot.com


The Insider Threat

Posted: August 17th, 2016 | Author: | Filed under: Basics, Controlled Substances, Dental, In the News, Security | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

Insider Threat, Dental, Opioid Epidemic, Fraud, e-Prescribing

In recent years the trusting relationship between dentists and their staff has come under scrutiny. Questions such as ‘how much control should my staff have?’ or ‘can my staff have access to my prescription pad?’ are questions posed in a dental office on a day-to-day basis, or so we hope. With 58% of dentists falling victim to prescription fraud, an issue that seems to be hitting dentists is Identity Theft. Not identity theft in the usual sense, but specifically the misuse of a dentist’s DEA number, forged signatures and stolen prescription pads.

The culprit? The Insider Threat comprised of office staff and fellow dentists. As the opioid epidemic kicks into full gear, dental offices are seeing the highest rate of fraud yet with forged prescriptions, specifically for controlled substances, and unfortunately staff members with access to the dentists’ prescription pads are at fault. However, as you will read in Case 3 which will be posted on Thursday August 25th, dentists also need to safeguard their prescription pads from other dentists! This is not to say that office staff and peers cannot be trusted or that they’re the sole cause of prescription fraud, not at all. However, how much trust is TOO much without proper protocols in place to ensure checks and balances for every prescription being written?

In 2016 alone, there have been numerous cases where an employee of a dental office has been behind the forged prescriptions and stolen prescription pads, which has ultimately led to dentists hanging the good old closed sign on the front door of the office.  This is the type of financial implications such a crime can impose.

Over the next week, we will be discussing specific cases in which a staff member has taken advantage of their employment to receive or distribute unauthorized prescriptions, as well as useful tools to help combat your potential Insider Threat. Stay tuned!

Case 1 – The Office Manager. Thursday, August 18th

Case 2 – The Assistants. Tuesday, August 23rd

Case 3 – The Dentist. Thursday, August 25th

About DoseSpot

DoseSpot is a Surescripts certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic health record, electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions to healthcare IT companies since 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.DoseSpot.com.


FREE eBook for DSO e-Prescribing

Posted: August 3rd, 2016 | Author: | Filed under: Basics, Controlled Substances, Dental | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

e prescribing, opioids, DSO, Dental

DoseSpot’s Latest eBook Highlights How and Why DSOs Can Easily Integrate e-Prescribing

DoseSpot is a Surescripts and DEA EPCS certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic dental records and practice management systems. Our integrations save DSOs time, money and development hassle.

This eBook reviews:

      • How e-Prescribing Helps DSOs

      • 5 Reasons Your DSO is Ready for e-Prescribing

      • The Role of Dentists

      • The Role of Controlled Substances

      • Knowledge At Your Fingertips

Download your FREE copy here!

About DoseSpot

DoseSpot is a Surescripts certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic health record, electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions to healthcare IT companies since 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.DoseSpot.com.


4 Signs Your Company is Ready for e-Prescribing

Posted: July 21st, 2016 | Author: | Filed under: Basics, Controlled Substances, Dental, Telehealth | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

In a recent post, we discussed that mandatory e-Prescribing is the commonsense solution for opioid addiction across the country, but that may ignite some anxiety in companies that have yet to embrace the technology. Don’t worry, we’re here to help! With 50 states and the District of Columbia on board and ready to e-Prescribe both controlled and non-controlled substances, more and more companies and pharmacies are quickly becoming certified for electronic prescribing. Let’s take the deep dive together and evaluate your clinical workflows with these four reasons your company may be ready to upgrade to e-Prescribing:

You want to ensure patient safety and quality of care to the highest degree

When a patient comes into a provider’s office, of course the purpose is to help this patient in any which way, however how can you be absolutely certain that this patient has good intentions or yet, can remember every medication they may be taking or have taken? With e-Prescribing, you can take the guesswork out by having access to their full medication history and you will also be alerted about any potential drug-to-drug and drug-to-allergy interactions.

You want to simplify clinical workflows and enable providers to spend more time with patients

The implementation of an e-Prescribing system will reduce the time spent on pharmacy calls and faxes, while also reducing clinical errors and time spent deciphering a provider’s handwriting. The automation and electronic efficiency put in place will allow providers to do what they do best and spend more time with their patients, while also improving the value of treatment relative to patient outcomes and medication adherence.

Click here to learn more about e-Prescribing and start saving time and money today!

You want to lower costs

Not only will you have access to a patient’s full medication history, you will also have visibility into their pharmacy benefits and associated formulary at point of care. This encourages the use of generic medications or lower cost equivalent medications which in turn has a lower out-of-pocket cost for the patient. E-Prescribing also reduces costs associated with both providers and pharmacies by saving time and resources. A study conducted by the Medical Group Management Association shows that more than $247,500 per year was spent on unnecessarily complex or redundant administrative tasks and $19,444 per year was spent on phone calls with pharmacies resolving drug formulary issues.

You want to combat prescription drug abuse

We see it on the news, we hear about it from a family member or friend, and the truth of the matter is, the controlled substances abuse epidemic, particularly with opioids, is not slowing down. The good news is, e-Prescribing can help. No longer will a patient have access to a paper prescription where it can easily be lost, stolen, or tampered with since the prescription will be sent directly to the pharmacy. Having access to their medication history will also assist providers in knowing if this patient is doctor shopping for such substances.

The benefits that electronic prescribing has to offer both providers and their patients greatly eliminates risk regarding fraud and drug abuse, as well as associated costs. Here at DoseSpot, we understand that making any type of change can be difficult, but we’ll be with you every step of the way. Our platforms are not only affordable, intuitive and easy to use, but they’re designed to integrate with any healthcare software whether it be medical, dental, or digital. Contact us today to learn more!

About DoseSpot
DoseSpot is a Surescripts certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic health record, electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions to healthcare IT companies since 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.DoseSpot.com.


Congress, Dentists, and the Opioid Crisis: Is Good, Good Enough?

Posted: July 13th, 2016 | Author: | Filed under: Basics, Controlled Substances, Dental, In the News, Public Policy, Security | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

As the opioid epidemic continues and more policies have recently been implemented to curb this crisis, it seems that a crucial piece of the puzzle is missing: mandatory electronic prescribing. Like Devon Herrick mentions in his latest post, e-Prescribing is a commonsense solution for an issue that isn’t slowing down in the United States. Now is the time for Congress to step up and take advantage of solutions that are not only available, but approved and certified by the DEA. It’s clear that efforts to prevent and treat the opioid epidemic will fall short without additional investments and while states have implemented Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs), they’re not mandatory and the ability to further capture data will undoubtedly be a pivotal cornerstone while facing this epidemic and for several reasons. With electronic prescribing:

  1. A prescriber can track a patient’s medication history and make smarter treatment decisions, i.e. doctor shopping, recent prescriptions filled, and drug-to-drug and drug-to-allergy interactions.
  2. There is no more need for paper prescriptions, therefore no more interpreting messy handwriting, no more altered dispense quantities, and no more stolen prescription pads.
  3.  A significant decline will occur relative to the rate of fraud, resale and abuse of opioids because e-Prescribing secures all information exchanges from diversion.

Electronic prescribing has been utilized by doctors for a few years now, but the e-Prescribing of controlled substances is last to hop on the bandwagon. Until recently, federal regulations prohibited e-prescribing of controlled substances due to perceived risks, however electronic prescribing diminishes these elements of risk.

Click here to learn more about e-Prescribing and start saving time and money today!

Since New York mandated that all prescriptions must be sent electronically, dentists in particular, have seen a vast change in the number of opioid prescriptions: “In a study of dentists, within a few months after iSTOP was implemented in New York, opioid prescriptions fell by about half, from 31 percent of dental visits before iSTOP to 14 percent in the following three months. The quantity of pills per prescription also fell. The total numbers of opioid analgesics prescribed fell by three-quarters (78 percent).”

Whether it’s mandated or not, the numbers don’t lie – electronic prescribing proves to be the smarter and safer force as we battle opioid addiction. Congress, take note.

Sources: National Center for Policy Analysis; PLOS; National Safety Council; NPR; Congress

About DoseSpot DoseSpot is a Surescripts certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic health record, electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions to healthcare IT companies since 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.DoseSpot.com.


How Costly Are Prescription Pain Meds? CVS Can Tell You.

Posted: July 5th, 2016 | Author: | Filed under: Basics, Controlled Substances, Dental, In the News, Security | Tags: , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

If only money grew on trees—I’m sure the revolving door of CVS’ bank accounts hope so. In the hot seat once again, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced on Thursday, June 30, that CVS is to pay $3.5 Million to resolve allegations that pharmacists have been filling forged prescriptions for controlled substances more than 500 times between 2011 and 2014. They failed to recognize the red flags for fake prescriptions and computer system bans on individuals receiving addictive drugs and did not alert the authorities. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time CVS has had to shell out a large sum of money as a result of negligence when filling controlled substances.

May 2015 – $22 Million; Florida

August 2015 – $450,000; Rhode Island

February 2016 – $8 Million; Maryland

June 2016 – $3.5 Million; Massachusetts

“DEA registrants like CVS have a corresponding responsibility to dispense controlled substances in accordance with the Controlled Substance Act.  When pharmacies fail to adhere to these responsibilities, it allows for the diversion of prescription pain medication, which contributes to the widespread abuse of opiates, is the gateway to heroin addiction, and is devastating our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson.  

Furthermore, dentists were victimized once again. A woman identified as “P.R.” signed a dentist’s name on 56 of 59 oxycodone prescriptions that were filled at five CVS locations, even though CVS had banned her back in 2011. Creating a new patient profile with a different last name was her way in. Another forger had used a Massachusetts address for a dentist who had moved to Maine.

Click here to learn more about e-Prescribing and start saving time and money today!

The settlement money is going to the Department of Justice for now, but there are hopes that this money will be used toward prevention—specifically addressing the need for a way forged prescriptions will never even be able to happen. This is where e-prescribing comes into play. e-Prescribing eliminates paper prescriptions, thus eliminating the risk of forged prescriptions, altered quantities, and stolen prescription pads.

Contact us today to learn how seamless the e-Prescribing transition can be with DoseSpot on your side and let’s combat this opioid epidemic together.

Sources: Boston Globe; U.S. Attorney’s Office, RI; U.S. Attorney’s Office, MA; U.S. Attorney’s Office, MD; U.S. Attorney’s Office, FL

About DoseSpot

DoseSpot is a Surescripts certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic health record, electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions to healthcare IT companies since 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.DoseSpot.com.