EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Supervalu Pharmacies are the first chain in the United States to meet stringent regulatory requirements and gain approval to accept e-prescriptions for controlled substances, the company announced on Thursday.
Shoppers Food and Farm Fresh pharmacies in Virginia, and Albertsons Sav-On in Southern California are accepting e-prescriptions for controlled substances – drugs or other substances that are regulated under federal law depending on medical use, potential for abuse, and addictiveness. In the coming weeks, this offering will be expanded to all Supervalu Pharmacies where approved by state law.
Doctors have had the ability to electronically send prescriptions for non-controlled medications for eight years. This new e-prescribing capability offers added convenience to pharmacy patients who require prescriptions for controlled substances.
Instead of bringing in a hand-written prescription, any prescriber who possesses e-prescribing capabilities and is certified to e-prescribe controlled substances can submit their patients' controlled substance prescriptions straight to their local Supervalu pharmacy. It is important to note, some states limit the types of controlled substances that can be prescribed via electronic transmission.
All pharmacies must undergo a credentialing process to accept e-prescriptions for controlled substances. These security and regulatory requirements are administered by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and must be adhered to. Supervalu's Pharmacies are the first in the United States to meet all those requirements and gain approval to accept e-prescriptions for controlled substances.
"E-prescriptions are especially convenient for patients with multiple prescriptions for controlled and non-controlled substances," said Chris Dimos, president, Supervalu pharmacies.
