Starting in January 2022, dentists in California must issue electronic prescriptions for controlled and uncontrolled substances, reports the California Dental Association.
Paper prescriptions will no longer be allowed, with very few exceptions. Assembly Bill 2789, which mandates the electronic prescribing, was signed into law in 2018, but CDA advocated for a three-year implementation window for dentists.
Prescribers can purchase a standalone prescribing software or a software application associated with an electronic health record.
Eliminating paper forms — which can be lost, stolen or used illegally — can reduce opportunities for diversion of controlled substances. E-prescribing can also help dentists provide timely patient care.