DEA number

Enforcement Administration (DEA) to obtain a specially designated DEA number is needed after receiving a waiver. ... 

Make sure that the DEA number is verified. The procedure for verification is provided below. 

The DEA number is a unique character code which can be easily verified in most cases. The first two of the nine characters are alphabets. The first alphabet is either an A or B, or alternatively, a P or R the letters A and B designate a dispenser, while the letters P or R refer to a distributor. The second alphabet is derived from the first letter of the registrant s last name or his/ her business name. These two alphabets cannot always be verified. The third to ninth positions from left represent a seven digit number which can be verified. To understand the procedure, an example of DEA AB 0494168 verification is provided here. 

The right most digit is eight here. The seventh or the last digit of the DEA number is also 8. 

If a DEA number follows the above rule of matching the right digit, it is most likely a genuine number. If a number doesn t match the above number, it could be an illegal prescription and the pharmacist or the nurse should verify it further by contacting the appropriate authorities. 

Prescriptions Prescriptions for controlled substances must be written in ink and include the following Date name and address of the patient name, address, and DEA number of the physician. Oral prescriptions must be promptly committed to writing. Controlled substance prescriptions may not be dispensed or refilled more than 6 months after the date issued or be refilled more than 5 times. A written prescription signed by the physician is required for schedule II drugs. In case of emergency, oral prescriptions for schedule II substances may be filled however, the physician must provide a signed prescription within 72 hours. Schedule II prescriptions cannot be refilled. A triplicate order form is necessary for the transfer of controlled substances in schedule II. Forms are available for the individual prescriber at no charge from the DEA. 

Hospital and community pharmacies exercise special caution when dispensing meperidine and other controlled substances. In an emergency, a doctor may choose to telephone the patient s pharmacy with the prescription. However, for medications such as meperidine, telephoned prescriptions can usually only provide a small amount of the drug, and the doctor must provide their DEA number and some relevant medical information. Refills for Schedule II medications are not allowed a patient must obtain a new prescription from their doctor. 

All barbiturates have the potential to be abused and cause addiction. Different barbiturates are designated as schedule II, III, and IV drugs, which means that all barbiturates require a prescription from a doctor or health care provider and the prescription must contain the doctor s DEA number. Physicians must obtain a special license to get a DEA number in order to prescribe controlled or addictive substances such as barbiturates. Doctors are very cautious about prescribing barbiturates to patients who have a history of drug abuse. 

Jaina was diagnosed with a seizure condition known as epilepsy. Her doctor, Dr. Smith, prescribed a medication, phe-nobarbital, for her condition. He explained that phenobarbital is a controlled substance because it has the risk of being abused. Therefore, Dr. Smith used a special controlled substances prescription pad to write Jaina s prescription and included his DEA number on the prescription. 

Prescriptions for controlled substances should be dated and signed on the day of their issuance and must bear the full name and address of the patient and the printed name, address, and DEA number of the practitioner they should be signed as one would sign a legal document. Preprinted orders are not allowed in most states, and presigned blanks are prohibited by federal law. When oral orders are not permitted (schedule 11), the prescription must be written with ink or typewritten. The order may be prepared by a member of the physician s staff, but the prescriber is responsible for the signature and any errors that the order may contain. 

Prescriptions for schedule III, IV, and V medications may be telephoned to a pharmacy by a physician or by trusted staff in the same manner as a prescription for a noncontrolled substance, although it is in the physician s best interest to keep his or her DEA number as private as reasonably possible see Preventing Diversion, below). Schedule II prescriptions may be telephoned to a pharmacy only in emergency situations. To be an emergency (1) immediate administration is necessary (2) no appropriate alternative treatment is available and (3) it is not reasonably possible for the physician to provide a written prescription prior to the dispensing. 

Ideally, the physician s full DEA number should not be preprinted on the prescription pad most prescriptions will not be for controlled substances and will not require the registration number, and anyone in possession of a valid DEA number may find it easier to commit prescription fraud. Some physicians may intentionally omit part or aU of their DEA number on a prescription and instead write pharmacist call to verify or call for registration number. This practice works only when the pharmacist may independently verify the authenticity of the prescription, and patients must be advised to fill the prescription during the prescriber s office hours. Pharmacists can ascertain the Kkely authenticity of a physician s DEA number using an algorithm. 

The digital certificate is attached to the order and provides the purchaser s name, registered location, DEA number, business activity, and authorized schedules. The supplier reports to the DEA the following information ... 

A hospital s DEA number may be used by authorized practitioners who cannot obtain their own DEA number. An intern, resident, staff physician, or midlevel practitioner who is an employee of a hospital or other institution may use the hospital s DEA number to prescribe controlled substances provided the following circumstances are met ... 

If a military practitioner engages in practice ontside of the military, he or she mnst obtain a separate DEA number for the nonmilitary practice. 

The DEA number for a qualified DATA physician begins with what letter ... 

Which health care professionals may be authorized to use a hospital s DEA number ... 

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