As January 1st approaches, it brings with it the implementation date for NCPDP SCRIPT v2017071. Prescribers and pharmacies across the nation are gearing up to switch their electronic prescribing systems to the new standard. This immense undertaking will help to create an improved E-Rx process through more robust data and enhanced message capability.

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Earlier this month I presented a webinar, co-hosted with Tatiana Cole, Sr. Integration Product Owner, ePrescribing & Regulatory at PointClickCare, to help prepare pharmacies for the transition to SCRIPT v2017071. FrameworkLTC customers can access the recorded webinar on the Customer Engagement Zone.

This presentation, along with a terrific Q&A segment with live questions from FrameworkLTC users, gave us the opportunity to discuss features in FrameworkLTC specific to the new standard along with how to complete E-Rx setup and prepare facility partners. Keep in mind there are two distinct paths to enable SCRIPT 2017071 in FrameworkLTC:

1. One path for Surescripts and

2. One path for your point-to-point partners.

SoftWriters has verified E-Rx capabilities with Surescripts along with some of the most commonly-used direct-connect EHR providers.

Let’s discuss the 4 key elements for a customer’s successful transition to SCRIPT v2017071:

1. Upgrade your instance of FrameworkLTC

To send and receive E-Rx messages in the new SCRIPT standard, users must be operating a version of FrameworkLTC that’s 219 or higher. SCRIPT v2017071 is not backwards-compatible with v10.6, and likewise is not usable on earlier versions of FrameworkLTC.

This upgrade is necessary in order to implement the functionality and architectural features of SCRIPT v2017071 in FrameworkLTC. Customers can download the latest version of FrameworkLTC on the Customer Engagement Zone.

2. Make the switch for Surescripts

Making the switch to v2017071 for Surescripts is easy. Simply email SoftWriters at FrameworkLTCScript2017@softwriters.com to schedule your switch. This process takes only a few minutes and simultaneously applies the system setting for SCRIPT v2017071 to both your instance of FrameworkLTC and Surescripts, ensuring a synchronous and seamless transition to the new standard.

SoftWriters was awarded NCPDP SCRIPT v2017071 certification by Surescripts in August 2019. As long as you are using FrameworkLTC version 219 or higher, there is no need to wait until January 1st - the v2017071 setting for Surescripts can be applied today.

3. Coordinate your point-to-point switches by communicating with your facility and vendor partners

Once you have upgraded your instance of FrameworkLTC, you are ready to make the transition to SCRIPT v2017071. But electronic prescribing is a two-way street. Facility EHR systems need to be ready as well.

Preparation on both the pharmacy and facility ends is needed to enable a bi-directional E-Rx message exchange in SCRIPT v2017071. This preparation requires communication and collaboration with your facility and EHR partners. Let them know you’re ready for SCRIPT v2017071.

Once you know that your facility is prepared to make the transition to SCRIPT v2017071, we recommend arranging a common time to coordinate the switch. This can be done at the pharmacy level through a simple adjustment on the Framework E-Rx Setup Utility. Simply change the SCRIPT version from 10.6 to 2017071 in the drop-down setting and your system will begin sending E-Rx messages in v2017071 for the respective facility/vendor.

Your facility partner should begin sending E-Rx messages in v2017071 at the same time. If there is any mismatch in the interim, don’t worry - FrameworkLTC can accommodate inbound E-Rx messages in both v10.6 and v2017071 simultaneously. This functional flexibility ensures that your pharmacy workflow keeps running smoothly.

In our webinar, Tatiana informed attendees that PointClickCare will handle the conversion for all your PointClickCare facilities. Get into their queue by completing this form, and reach out to your PointClickCare contact with any questions.

4. New year, new SCRIPT standard

Once you have made the switch to NCPDP SCRIPT v2017071 for Surescripts and your point-to-point EHR vendors, your pharmacy is ready to use the enhanced data elements and message capabilities that the new SCRIPT standard brings with it, giving you the ability to:

• Increase efficiency with an expanded data capacity. Urgent orders are automatically prioritized in your E-Rx queue.

• See more information than ever before with many new and expanded data elements. The new SCRIPT standard presents many opportunities for new product features and enhanced pharmacy-focused development.

This is an exciting time for electronic prescribing as pharmacies make the switch to a new SCRIPT standard. Reach out to SoftWriters Customer Support for any assistance you may need during this transition. We’re here to help.

Mark Fulton is a Clinical Product Manager at SoftWriters, a Pittsburgh-based company that offers pharmacy management solutions to pharmacies serving the long-term care community. Mark applies his 16 years of pharmacy expertise to the software development process, creating value by building a more efficient linkage between customers and the development channel.