• A prescription for a controlled substance listed in Schedule II may be dispensed only upon a written prescription of a practitioner, except that in an emergency situation, as defined by regulation of the Department of Health, such controlled substance may be dispensed upon oral prescription but is limited to a 72-hour supply. A prescription for a controlled substance listed in Schedule II may not be refilled.
• Any controlled substance listed in Schedule III or Schedule IV may be dispensed by a pharmacist upon an oral prescription if, before filling the prescription, the pharmacist reduces it to writing or records the prescription electronically if permitted by federal law. Such prescriptions must contain the date of the oral authorization.

1. Resist erasures and reproductions.  The blank must be printed on artificial watermarked paper and must be 50# white or other quality approved by the Department.
2. Contain blue or green background ink that resists reproduction. The color must be consistent on every blank and listed on the blank as a security feature.
3. Display the word “VOID” or “ILLEGAL” if the prescription pad is copied. The language used must not obstruct or render illegible any portion of the drug name, quantity or direction for use.
4. Contain the following information (NOTE: Counterfeit-proof blanks may be sold to licensed healthcare practitioners or facilities who print prescriptions using an Electronic Medical Record System):
1. The preprinted name, address, and category of professional licensure of the prescribing practitioner; and
2. A space for the prescribing practitioner’s federal Drug Enforcement Administration registration number for controlled substances.
5. List security features and descriptions on the prescription blanks, preferably on the reverse side, to assist dispensing pharmacists in detecting forgeries. Examples of such feature listings are: the blank resist erasures and alterations, the background color must appear blue (if blue) or green (if green), the words VOID (if void) or ILLEGAL (if illegal) will appear when copied.  Additional security features beyond those required are encouraged, but must be listed on the blank.
6. List a unique tracking identification number for each order which is printed on the front of the blank and readily visible. A unique tracking identification number and the name of the licensed healthcare practitioner or health-care facility that purchased the prescription blank must be maintained by the vendor and available to the Department upon request. The unique tracking identification number must consist of three subsets: (1) a unique alphabetic prefix that readily identifies the vendor, (2) the date of printing, and (3) a batch number. The alpha characters used to identify the vendor will be assigned by the Department and must appear first in the tracking identification number in upper case. The date the blank was printed must immediately follow the vendor’s unique alpha identifier and must be presented in a six character numerical field using the format YRMODY (for example, June 3, 2011, would be coded as 110603). The batch number assigned by the vendor must immediately follow the print date. From left to right, the tracking identification number must appear as alpha prefix, print date, and then batch number, with no blank spaces between subsets. For example, ABC1106030001.
7. Contain no advertisement on the actual prescription blank.  Prescription pads may vary in size and style and contain appropriate advertising on the inside front cover and on alternate sheets within the pad. Advertisements shall be restricted to medically related topics and must be professional in nature.

14) "Prescription" includes any order for drugs or medicinal supplies written or transmitted by any means of communication by a duly licensed practitioner authorized by the laws of the state to prescribe such drugs or medicinal supplies and intended to be dispensed by a pharmacist. The term also includes an orally transmitted order by the lawfully designated agent of such practitioner. The term also includes an order written or transmitted by a practitioner licensed to practice in a jurisdiction other than this state, but only if the pharmacist called upon to dispense such order determines, in the exercise of her or his professional judgment, that the order is valid and necessary for the treatment of a chronic or recurrent illness. The term “prescription” also includes a pharmacist’s order for a product selected from the formulary created pursuant to s. 465.186. Prescriptions may be retained in written form or the pharmacist may cause them to be recorded in a data processing system, provided that such order can be produced in printed form upon lawful request.

Search the Department's Approved Counterfeit-Proof Prescription Pads or Blanks Vendors online at http://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/ppv_search/default.aspx by inserting only the vendor's unique alpha identifier.  The alpha identifier will appear is the first subset of the vendor tracking number that will appear on the front of the prescription.

No. The Department of Health adopted the Agency for Health Care Administration's-Medicaid Provider Programs Counterfeit-proof Prescription Pad standards established 8 years ago to ensure that the Department of Health did not disrupt the Medicaid Programs business process.  The Department of Health has been told by the Agency for Health Care Administration that dashes are not acceptable in the vendor unique tracking number. In fact, the agreement with Department of Health approved vendors clearly states that "the unique tracking identification number must consist of three subsets: (1) a unique alphabetic prefix that readily identifies the vendor, (2) the date of printing, and (3) a batch number (which is assigned by the vendor). The alpha characters must appear first in the tracking identification number in upper case, the date must immediately follow the vendor's unique alpha identifier and be presented in six character numerical field using YRMODY, and the batch number must immediately follow the printed date."  The use of the words "immediately follow" does not allow for dashes to be used between these subsets.

What do I do if the unique tracking number printed on the counterfeit-proof prescription contains special characters (e.g., dashes, periods, commas, slashes, alpha characters)?

The system will give you an error message for the following reasons:

A) Error Message: ERROR: Data for this reporting period already exists. 
This error message appears when trying to submit a report for a month that has already been opened.  Once “Create Monthly Report” has been clicked, a report for the month is immediately created.  If this error message appears, click the “HOME” link in the top right corner of your screen, then click “Update Monthly Report”.  The option to “update report” or “delete report” will be given.

B) Error message: Invalid order date. Month value must be the same as the reporting month.
This message appears when trying to submit a report that has two different dates in the “order date” box.  The date submitted must correspond to the month showing in the dropdown box.  For example, if the dropdown box reads “September”, then the dates entered into the “order date” box must be 09/01/2011, 09/02/2011, etc. 

C) Error message: Invalid order date.
This message appears when the dates have been incorrectly entered the date in the “order date” box.  For example, if the date entered is 8/21/11, the above error message will appear in red.  The date must be entered as shown in the example, 08/21/2011, above the “order date” box. 

Which health care practitioners are required to purchase counterfeit-proof prescription pads/blanks for prescribing controlled substances as mandated in s. 456.42, Florida Statutes?

Counterfeit-proof Prescription Pad Sample (pdf - 563kb)
The prescription pads must meet all for the following:

• Resist erasures and reproductions.  The blank must be printed on artificial watermarked paper and must be 50# white or other quality approved by the Department.
• Contain blue or green background ink that resists reproduction. The color must be consistent on every blank and listed on the blank as a security feature.
• Display the word “VOID” or “ILLEGAL” if the prescription pad is copied. The language used must not obstruct or render illegible any portion of the drug name, quantity or direction for use.
• Contain the following information (NOTE: Counterfeit-proof blanks may be sold to licensed healthcare practitioners or facilities who print prescriptions using an Electronic Medical Record System):
  1. The preprinted name of practitioner or facility, physical address of prescriber or facility, and category of professional licensure of the prescribing practitioner; and
  2. A space for the prescribing practitioner's federal Drug Enforcement Administration registration number for controlled substances.
• List security features and descriptions on the prescription blanks, preferably on the reverse side, to assist dispensing pharmacists in detecting forgeries. Examples of such feature listings are: the blank resist erasures and alterations, the background color must appear blue (if blue) or green (if green), the words VOID (if void) or ILLEGAL (if illegal) will appear when copied.  Additional security features beyond those required are encouraged, but must be listed on the blank.
• List a unique tracking identification number for each order which is printed on the front of the blank and readily visible. A unique tracking identification number and the name of the licensed healthcare practitioner or health-care facility that purchased the prescription blank must be maintained by the vendor and available to the Department upon request. The unique tracking identification number must consist of three subsets:
  1. a unique alphabetic prefix that readily identifies the vendor,
  2. the date of printing, and
  3. a batch number. The alpha characters used to identify the vendor will be assigned by the Department and must appear first in the tracking identification number in upper case. The date the blank was printed must immediately follow the vendor's unique alpha identifier and must be presented in a six character numerical field using the format YRMODY (for example, June 3, 2011, would be coded as 110603). The batch number assigned by the vendor must immediately follow the print date. From left to right, the tracking identification number must appear as alpha prefix, print date, and then batch number, with no blank spaces between subsets. For example, ABC1106030001.
• Contain no advertisement on the actual prescription blank.  Prescription pads may vary in size and style and contain appropriate advertising on the inside front cover and on alternate sheets within the pad. Advertisements shall be restricted to medically related topics and must be professional in nature.

Where are prescriptions allowed to be shipped for delivery?

Can I use prescription paper that has a pantograph other than the word “VOID” or “ILLEGAL” (e.g. “RX INVALID”) when copied?

What should a vendor do if they print a unique tracking number on the counterfeit-proof prescription pads or blanks that contains special characters (e.g., dashes, periods, commas, slashes, alpha characters)?

However, if the vendor prints an incorrect unique tracking number after November 1, 2011, the vendor must correct the printing error and reprint the order for the prescribing practitioner.