What Is a Tamper-Proof Prescription Pad?
Medicaid outpatient, fee-for-service prescriptions have to be written on tamper-proof prescription pads starting April 1… but what exactly is a tamper-proof prescription pad?
By April 1, tamper-proof prescriptions pads must prevent one of three things—erasure or modification of information, unauthorized copying, or counterfeiting, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW). They must prevent all three by Oct. 1
DPW has developed a list of specific features that meet these requirements.
To prevent erasure or modification, a pad can:
- Have a protected background
- Contain solvents that prevent washing of the prescription
- Contain a word or symbol that disappears if rubbed or scratched too quickly
To prevent unauthorized copying, a pad can have:
- A “void” pattern that appears when copied
- A watermark that can only be read at a certain angle
- A microline that can only be read with a magnifier and doesn’t appear on copies
To prevent counterfeiting, a pad can have:
- Warning bands that contain security features
- Ink that changes color when exposed to heat
- A patch that changes appearance when touched, rubbed, or breathed on
Where to order
DPW has compiled a list of approved tamper-proof prescription pad suppliers, which is available on its website.
The Pennsylvania Medical Society endorses
Solion for medical office products, including prescription pads. State Society members receive a 20 percent discount.
Things to keep in mind
DPW recommends ordering pads that meet all three requirements for the April 1 deadline, so you won’t have to place a new order a few months later.
Don’t forget about computer-generated prescriptions. Plain printer paper will no longer be sufficient after Oct. 1 because it does not prevent unauthorized copying. It will need to contain one of the features mentioned above that prevents unauthorized copying.
For more information the tamper-proof prescription pad requirements, read DPW’s most recent bulletin or contact Don McCoy at (800) 228-7823, ext. 2649.
Last Updated: 8/13/2008