The Controlled Prescription Program (CPP) aims to reduce inappropriate or forged prescriptions by requiring the use of a duplicate prescription pad to prescribe controlled drugs and substances listed in the
Controlled Drug Program Information and Drug List. BCCNM oversees the supply of duplicate controlled prescription pads to authorized registrants including:
- Midwives
- Nurse practitioners
- Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses who hold certified practice in opioid use disorder.
Controlled prescribing and your practice
- Eligibility to prescribe
- To prescribe controlled drugs and substances, you must:
- Have access to PharmaNet and document review of the client’s PharmaNet medication profile, and employer support to prescribe controlled drugs and substances.
- Meet BCCNM prescribing standards, limits and conditions and employer policies, standards and guidelines.
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To prescribe for opioid use disorder you must complete the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use's
Provincial Opioid Addiction Treatment Support Program, including the preceptorship.
- Requirements for prescribing controlled drugs + substances
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- Prescribing of controlled drugs and substances should follow NP standards, limits and conditions for prescribing drugs and prescribing for opioid use disorder and/or pharmaceutical alternatives for safer supply.
- Keep duplicate controlled prescription pads in a secure, locked location to minimize the risk of prescription pads or sheets being stolen, lost, or used fraudulently.
- Prescribers must not share their prescription pad or use anyone else's pad. Every pad has a folio number that is linked to the RN's unique prescriber number.
- If using a prescription pad, keep the prescriber (duplicate) copy of the prescription in the client health record, not within the pad. This ensures appropriate recordkeeping and protects your client’s personal information if a pad is lost or stolen.
- Follow employer records retention policies for the retention and filing of prescriber copies.
- Verbal or faxed prescriptions to pharmacies
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- When a verbal or faxed CPP prescription is issued to a pharmacy, a faxed copy of the CPP form is now acceptable.
- Prescriptions for long term care and extended care licenced facility patients do not require the use of CPP forms and may be faxed to the authorized community pharmacy.
Prescription pad management
- How to order CPP prescription pads
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Log in to your BCCNM account.
- You’ll be asked to provide your phone number, pad address (work site), and delivery address.
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- A confirmation email will be sent after your order has been successfully submitted.
- The pad(s) will be delivered from the printer via Canada Post Xpresspost. Please allow three weeks for order processing and delivery.
- If pads are not delivered within three weeks of ordering, contact BCCNM at cpp@bccnm.ca or 604.742.6200 or toll-free at 1.866.880.7101.
Important
- Controlled prescription pads should be delivered to the primary workplace where you will be using the pad.
- The phone number and address you provide must match the information on your BCCNM record. Please make sure that your contact information is up to date before placing an order.
- A medical office assistant or other clinic staff member may sign for the order if they are aware that the pad must be appropriately stored in a in a secure, locked area immediately upon arrival.
- For security reasons, only in exceptional circumstances will a controlled prescription pad or be delivered to a home address.
- Canada Post will attempt delivery twice. If both attempts are unsuccessful, Canada Post will forward the order to BCCNM and we will contact you to organize delivery.
- Report a lost or stolen prescription pad
- If your CPP pad goes missing – whether lost or stolen – please:
- 1. Follow your employer policy.
- 2. Determine what folios (numbered forms) were in the missing pad.
- 3. Determine if patient information is contained in the missing pad.
- 4. Review previous prescriptions to determine if there are legitimate prescriptions still outstanding that will need to be replaced.
- 5. Report loss, misuse or theft (possible or confirmed) to the organizations below.
ORGanization
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CONTACT
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BCCNM Quality Assurance
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Phone: 604.742.6200
Toll-free: 1.866.880.7101 (in Canada only)
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BC Privacy Commissioner
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Report a privacy breach
Only required if patient information is contained in the missing pad.
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Pharmanet
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Pharmanet Support Services
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Police
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Contact the non-emergency line in your area.
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- Following up on a prescription pad order
- Before contacting BCCNM about the status of your prescription pad order, please:
- Allow three weeks for order processing and delivery; and
- Check with your clinic admin staff to confirm if your pads were delivered.
If your order is not delivered within three weeks of ordering, contact BCCNM at
cpp@bccnm.ca or 604.742.6200 or toll-free at 1.866.880.7101.
- Disposing of unused prescription pads
- You must confidentially shred your pads if you:
- are on an extended leave;
- change your registration status to non-practising or inactive;
- change employers, or the information on your pads is no longer current; or
- are instructed to do so by BCCNM staff.
If your site does not have confidential waste to dispose of your pads securely, please contact us at
cpp@bccnm.ca and we will send you a pre-paid addressed envelope to return your pads to BCCNM.
Resources
- Case studies
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- Federal laws + regulations
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- Prescribing - General
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- Prescribing - Opioid use disorder
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- PharmaNet
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