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Official Website

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    The .gov means its official.

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

     

    Notifications

    As of October 24, 2019, doctors and other healthcare providers that write a paper script or prescription for controlled substances medications are required to electronically prescribe controlled substance drugs. Electronic prescribing, or e-prescribing, is a technology that lets doctors send prescriptions right to a pharmacy. Controlled substances are drugs that have a greater chance for misuse, according to state or federal government.

    This means in most cases patients are no longer going to get a paper prescription or script for controlled substances. Doctors will send the patient's prescription electronically to the pharmacy the patient likes to use.

    E-prescribing helps patients by reducing medication mistakes.

    To make sure you will not have problems getting your controlled substance prescriptions, we recommend you:

    • Ask your doctor and pharmacists how things will change with e-prescribing.
    • Make sure your doctor knows what pharmacy you like to use.
    • Talk to your doctor if you have a paper prescription that will be filled after October 24, 2019.

    Patients who have more refills left on a controlled substance prescription can still get that medication refilled after October 24, 2019, without getting a new e-prescription from the doctor.

    Patients who have questions or concerns about e-prescribing can contact the Patient Advocacy Program by emailing ra-dh-advocacy@pa.gov or calling 844-377-7367 Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

    Patient Advocacy Program

    If you are a patient who is prescribed controlled substance medication and have abruptly lost access to care, please visit the Patient Advocacy Program page.