EPCS 2.0 Act

The EPCS 2.0 Act requires most health insurance plans and group health plans to mandate electronic prescriptions for schedule II-V controlled substances (like opioids and sedatives) for covered beneficiaries starting January 1, 2025. It directly affects health insurers, employers offering group plans, and healthcare providers writing prescriptions for these medications. Key exceptions include hospice/nursing home prescriptions, temporary tech failures, and public health emergencies where non-electronic prescriptions remain valid. The law prohibits insurers from rejecting claims based on prescription format or requiring pharmacies to verify electronic transmission, while preserving patient choice of pharmacy and existing valid written/phone prescriptions.