EHNAC Establishes New Electronic Prescription of Controlled Substances Certification Programs for Pharmacy and Prescribing Vendors

Third-party accreditation ensures EPCS vendor adherence to DEA regulations and industry-established standards for health information technology

FARMINGTON, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission (EHNAC), a non-profit standards development organization and accrediting body, announced today the release of its new certification programs for vendors handling electronic prescription of controlled substances (EPCS).

“We are excited about the level of detail provided in these programs, which effectively address the requirements of the DEA regulations. Customers of organizations achieving this certification can be confident their vendors have a very strong compliance framework in place.”

The two certification programs evaluate pharmacy and prescribing companies that offer applications supporting electronic prescription of controlled substances. These programs are designed to demonstrate that vendors meet detailed Drug Enforcement Association (DEA) regulations as well as EHNAC core criteria addressing privacy, confidentiality, technical performance, business practices, resources and security.

"EHNAC's new EPCS programs were developed through the collaboration of healthcare prescription vendor and network experts,” says Mark Gingrich, commissioner and criteria committee chair of EHNAC. “We are excited about the level of detail provided in these programs, which effectively address the requirements of the DEA regulations. Customers of organizations achieving this certification can be confident their vendors have a very strong compliance framework in place."

EHNAC is undergoing the application process with the DEA to become an approved EPCS certifier. Until finalized, these programs will be administered exclusively by Certified Information System Auditors (CISAs) to meet requirements of the DEA EPCS regulation. EHNAC accreditation recognizes excellence in health data processing and transactions, and confirms compliance with industry-established standards as well as HIPAA and ARRA/HITECH regulations. For more information on these or other EHNAC accreditation programs, visit www.ehnac.org.

About EHNAC

The Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission (EHNAC) is a voluntary, self-governing standards development organization (SDO) established to develop standard criteria and accredit organizations that electronically exchange healthcare data. These entities include electronic health networks, payers, financial services firms, health information exchanges and e-prescribing solution providers.

EHNAC was founded in 1993 and is a tax-exempt 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization. Guided by peer evaluation, the EHNAC accreditation process promotes quality service, innovation, cooperation and open competition in healthcare. To learn more, visit www.ehnac.org or contact [e-mail].