PVMA Keystone Veterinarian Spring 2020 - 22

PHARMACY HEADACHES PART 2:
Identifying Information and
Script Transmission
By Kate Boatright, VMD,
and Lauren Forsythe,
PharmD

Nearly every veterinarian who has sent a prescription to a
human pharmacy has received the call from the pharmacy
requesting their NPI number. When the pharmacy technician or
pharmacist on the phone is told that veterinarians don't have
NPI numbers, they often proceed to ask for a DEA number,
even if the prescription is for a non-controlled substance. Most
veterinarians and their team members are tired of repeatedly
having this conversation, but how can we break this cycle?
NPI, DEA and State License Numbers
First, it is important to understand what these numbers are and
when their use is appropriate. National Prescriber Information
(NPI) numbers are an identification number given to doctors to
indicate that they are eligible to prescribe for Medicare patients.
Veterinarians are not eligible for NPIs because they do not treat
humans.1 DEA numbers are used "to provide certification of DEA
registration in transactions involving controlled substances."2
Many veterinarians do have a DEA number to allow them
to prescribe or dispense controlled substances, but the DEA
strongly opposes the use of DEA numbers for identification
purposes for non-controlled substances.2
State license numbers are an acceptable form of identification
for veterinarians writing a prescription for a non-controlled
substance.3 There are work-arounds in the computer systems to
allow this information to be entered, though some pharmacists
are not aware of how to make this happen.
Responding to Pharmacies Requesting Inappropriate
Identification
When you encounter a pharmacy that requests an NPI number,
we recommend you start by providing education to the
pharmacy team on what an NPI number is (many pharmacists
may only know this as a number the computer system asks
22 | Keystone Veterinarian

for) and why veterinarians are not eligible for them. By taking
a few moments to educate the pharmacy team, you may save
yourself and other area veterinarians from having the same
conversations multiple times.
If the pharmacy proceeds to ask for a DEA number for a noncontrolled substance, you should decline to provide that
information and offer your state license number instead. You
can send them a copy of the DEA's statement on use of DEA
numbers as identification to help educate them. It is essential
that veterinarians remain consistent in declining to provide
DEA numbers for non-controlled substances. If we give in after
several requests, just to make things easier on us or our staff,
the problem will only continue.
If the pharmacist you are speaking to is unable to work with
you to take a state license number, ask to speak to the PIC, or
pharmacist-in-charge. Every pharmacy has a PIC, who operates
as the pharmacy's manager. If this individual is still unable to
help you, let them know you will contact their district office to
discuss the situation. Often, working your way up the chain of
command will lead to a resolution of the problem.
Minimizing Errors When Transmitting Scripts to Outside
Pharmacies
Now that we have discussed identification numbers, it is time
to tackle suggestions for minimizing errors when sending scripts
to outside pharmacies. There are three main ways to do this: in
written form, by phone or by fax. Potential for error exists in all
cases, but some methods are more error-proof than others.
Written Prescriptions
Providing a written script is the best way to avoid communication
errors. This is also the best way to have proof that any errors

PVMA Keystone Veterinarian Spring 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of PVMA Keystone Veterinarian Spring 2020