Due to the opioid epidemic and prescription fraud, state and federal governments are seeking ways to further control Schedule II controlled substances. Texas has made changes to this effect, as well, through official prescription forms. According to the Texas Medical Association, these new forms have been available since Sept. 1, 2018. However, up until June 1, 2019, older forms were acceptable. After this date, only the new forms will be legal for Schedule II drugs.
Another change, which does not become mandatory until Sept. 1, 2019, is prescriber registration in a state database that monitors patients’ prescription history. Every prescriber will have to have an account with PMP Aware, the state’s new prescription monitoring program.
What is so different about the new forms? According to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, there are a number of distinctive features that are designed for security.
- Thermochromic ink: This heat- or friction-activated ink is not an entirely new feature, but the location of the mark is. The red check on the back of the old forms is replaced by a red Rx on the new forms.
- Watermark: A watermark of the State of Texas seal can be seen on the front of the form. There is also a watermark embedded in the paper itself that becomes visible when the form is held up to the light.
- Control number: Every single form has a unique identifying number. When a pharmacy dispenses a C-II prescription, the record must include this number.
- Pantograph: New prescription forms are on security paper that reveals the word “void” if someone attempts to make a copy or scan of the form.
Other security measures include required registration of the forms to each practitioner. Not only that, a practitioner with multiple offices must order forms specific to each location. Other restrictions also apply.
