Recertification Best Practices 

FrameworkLTC supports the Recertification ERx message.  As this message becomes more widely used across the long-term care ecosystem, it provides tremendous value to LTC pharmacies and facilities, ensuring collective awareness of whether and how recently an order has been recertified. 

Just like any tool in the healthcare technology arsenal, the value of ERx Recertification is tightly linked to a solid understanding of how it works and what it does and does not do.  If it’s been a while since you last looked at the ERx Recertification message, here’s a helpful guide to reacquaint you with what Recertification is, how it works, and why it matters. 

What does the Recertification message do? 

Recertification is a type of NCPDP ERx message sent from a LTC Facility to a pharmacy that authorizes an existing order for continued administration.  It’s a “green light” to keep dispensing an order by confirming that the order is still valid.  Recertification ERx messages are an electronic method of “signing off” on a patient’s current medications by a prescriber in the LTCF setting.  CMS requires recertification of a patient’s medication orders at 30–60-day intervals, depending on the resident’s level of care. ERx Recertification can accomplish this task electronically and seamlessly – providing peace of mind and confidence for you and your pharmacy.

Prohibited Uses 

The Recertification message has a very limited and distinct role in LTC Pharmacy.  It can only communicate information about existing orders.  It cannot change, modify, or replace any information on an existing order beyond the Date Recertified. 

The Recertification message does NOT update the Date Written.   

The Recertification message does NOT update the ordering prescriber, even if the Recertifying individual is different than the original prescriber. 

The Recertification message does not trigger a dispensing event. 

The ERx Recertification requirements and workflow limitations can be tailored at the facility level in FrameworkLTC, allowing customized configurations to accommodate each facility’s unique needs. ERx Recertification provides instantaneous communication of an order’s reauthorization between a LTCF and the pharmacy. Pharmacies can use built-in reporting and configurable alerts to help manage recertification status and ensure that the entire care team is aligned.   

When medications are dispensed that have not been recertified, or when an expected medication is withheld due to lack of recertification; facilities, pharmacies, and patients are at increased risk.  Erx Recertification removes this uncertainty and provides clear communication on a resident’s exact medication list in real-time, eliminating phone calls, delays, and confusion. 

For more information on ERx Recertification, reach out to us at support@softwriters.com.

Are you an LTC pharmacy currently using or considering FrameworkLTC as your pharmacy’s dispensing system? FrameworkLTC is the nation’s leading pharmacy management system and the only provider 100% focused on the unique needs and challenges encountered by LTC pharmacies across the country. 

Learn More at the Point Click Care Summit

If you want to learn more about how to maximize your use of FrameworkLTC in coordination with Point Click Care, we invite you to attend the Point Click Care Summit in February and stop by our booth to explore the unmatched integration capabilities and feature functionality designed for Long-Term Care pharmacy available in FrameworkLTC.