Tamper-resistant Rx pads to be used starting in April

WASHINGTON On April 1, 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regulation requiring the use of tamper-resistant prescription pads for Medicaid beneficiaries will go into effect.

CMS also has made several exceptions to the requirement. Prescriptions for hospital inpatients and residents of long-term care facilities will not be subject to the tamper-resistant prescription pads, but the pads will be required for hospital outpatients and the community retail setting.

Beginning in October 2008, computer generated prescriptions must include features designed to prevent unauthorized copying of a prescription form, erasure or modification of information written by a prescriber; or use of counterfeit prescription forms.