I-STOP now effective - No Health Commerce Account yet? (for NYS Practitioners)

August 27, 2013

Question:

Jennifer,

I have not received my health commerce account yet and I know today is the deadline to start checking the prescription monitoring program before prescribing certain controlled substances.  What do I do?

Thanks,
Dr. F

Answer:

Good question Dr. F, and the NYS DOH has an answer for you on their website - http://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/narcotic/prescription_monitoring/ that says:

The updated Prescription Monitoring Program Registry is operational and has been available on-line since June 12, 2013. All users must access the PMP Registry through the Department of Health's secure Health Commerce System ("HCS"). With the upcoming effective date of the I-STOP law requiring the use of the PMP Registry, a large late surge of practitioners are now submitting requests for HCS accounts. Although the Department of Health is working diligently to process all requests, this significant influx has resulted in a delay in processing accounts.

During this transition period, practitioners who are making a good faith effort to apply but are unable to establish HCS accounts, should continue to provide treatment to their patients in the same manner as they currently do, including the prescribing of controlled substances without accessing PMP Registry. We expect this transition period to last through October.

For more information on I-STOP/PMP - Internet System for Tracking Over-Prescribing - Prescription Monitoring Program check out the DOH website - here.  You may also view our webinar on I-STOP here - www.kirschenbaumesq.com/article/healthcare-webinars.  Not sure what I-STOP is, click here for prior newsletter explaining - www.kirschenbaumesq.com/article/new-york-preparing-for-the-prescription-monitoring-registry.


 

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