News — controlled substances

As you are probably aware, more and more state boards of dentistry and state legislatures have enacted laws and/or rules requiring things like provider education, patient assessment guidelines, prescribing parameters, big brother is watching programs, and so on. With some exceptions, states have availed (even required) providers to review their prescriber histories and their patients’ controlled substance histories prior to issuing prescriptions for controlled prescription drugs. Whatever the state drug database is called (Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), a Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) or something far more unique (CURES in California, OARRS in Ohio)) and whatever your state’s requirements here...

Ask yourself the following questions. Does anyone other than the dentist ever: Prepare prescriptions for controlled substances for the dentist’s signature? Call or fax prescriptions to a pharmacy? Handle controlled substances for ordering, inventorying, shipping/receiving, and/or preparing for the dentist’s administration to a patient? Look up patient/caregiver drug histories in the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP)? Look up the dentist’s prescribing history in the PMP? Transport controlled substances to a satellite office? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, your office should officially authorize the staff members who perform these functions to be in compliance with federal regulations regarding...

I put out a lot of TOP NOTCH compliance content from this blog to the podcast, "Talking with the ToothCop." I know a lot of you benefit from this content, but some of you might not know what we do....cause let's face it, writing blogs and yakking on a podcast, don't pay the bills. So here's a short synopsis of what we do for our clients and how we keep the lights on here at DCS.  1. Who do we work with at Dental Compliance Specialists? We work with dentists young and old. We work with small solo-dentist practices, dental group...

Let's face it, the day to day operations of working in a dental practice can get crazy! As the dentist, you can be pulled in three (or more) different directions, and your team members try their best to keep you on track! There are times when a patient needs a prescription and you need one of your staff members to help facilitate the process.  Do your employees have delegated duties, such as: 1.   Preparing, for your signature, written prescriptions for controlled substances in those instances where you have expressly directed the employee to do so and where you have specified...