do I need a DEA number for this?

[hafnium45nm]

I intend to prescribe ibuprofen ( up to 800 mg ), amoxicillin, and clindamycin.

I'm in NYC. Do I need a DEA number when prescribing any of this? ( I can't afford a DEA number at this time )

And what about prescription pads? Aren't the offices supposed to provide you with them?

Also, what if you want to phone in your prescription to a local pharmacy? Do you require anything prior to that phone call?

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[pmantz]

I intend to prescribe ibuprofen ( up to 800 mg ), amoxicillin, and clindamycin.

I'm in NYC. Do I need a DEA number when prescribing any of this? ( I can't afford a DEA number at this time )

And what about prescription pads? Aren't the offices supposed to provide you with them?

Also, what if you want to phone in your prescription to a local pharmacy? Do you require anything prior to that phone call?

I thought you only needed a DEA number for sheadule I-5.

 

[Dentyte]

What you need to ask yourself is... "Can I walk into a pharmacy and buy any of those things you mentioned without a prescription?" The answer should lead you to know if you need a DEA #. This is what makes you a Doctor and not just someone off the street. You also need to buck up and get your DEA and anything else that you need for your patients. You don't want to be sued for not being able to provide the best care to your patients. What would you say to the Judge? "But judge, I just couldn't afford the license to prescribe medicines to my patients or pay for the paper that they are printed on from Costco." I'm sure you would have his sympathy! (or not, Doc!)

Exactly how much do you make a year if you can't afford these things?

 

[hafnium45nm]

What would you say to the Judge? "But judge, I just couldn't afford the license to prescribe medicines to my patients or pay for the paper that they are printed on from Costco." I'm sure you would have his sympathy! (or not, Doc!)

Exactly how much do you make a year if you can't afford these things?

The problem is that I haven't even received my first paycheck. In fact, I don't even have a written contract as to how my salary would be calculated and when it will be disbursed. I have only $700 in my bank account. I know that the DEA number costs $550 but I don't feel comfortable spending almost everything I have in the bank. I'm also missing health and disability insurance.

Now, since I don't have a DEA number, does that mean I should stop working? What should I do during the times I don't have one?

I never thought the DEA number was a big deal because I rarely prescribed meds when I was in dental school and in my gpr. So I thought the same for real private practice.

 

[hafnium45nm]

I thought you only needed a DEA number for sheadule I-5.

what's that?

 

[pmantz]

what's that?

The pharmacy only needs a DEA #, for scheaduled drugs. Scheadule 1 is the most addictive and Scheadule 5 is the least addictive. Antibiotics are not not regulated by the DEA.

 

[Daurang]

Yes you need it. Pharmacies sometime must have it to process insurance information.

 

[Dukie]

The problem is that I haven't even received my first paycheck. In fact, I don't even have a written contract as to how my salary would be calculated and when it will be disbursed. I have only $700 in my bank account. I know that the DEA number costs $550 but I don't feel comfortable spending almost everything I have in the bank. I'm also missing health and disability insurance.

Now, since I don't have a DEA number, does that mean I should stop working? What should I do during the times I don't have one?

I never thought the DEA number was a big deal because I rarely prescribed meds when I was in dental school and in my gpr. So I thought the same for real private practice.

I'm starting to wonder if you are for real. Looking at all of your posts, they have been to either ask about how to do procedures or regarding things you really should already know if you are a practicing dentist (ie- what the schedules of drugs are). That being said, here is my overall advice. Take it or leave it:

1. You seem to be in a horrible practice situation. You don't have a written contract? You are being asked to do things you aren't comfortable doing. You don't know when you will be paid? You need to get out of this situation and into a better one ASAP.

2. Obviously, I'm judging solely based on what you post on SDN, but you seem to be really unsure about what you are doing. You are selling your patients short and you are just welcoming a lawsuit. I would step back, make sure you are comfortable with ALL procedures you are going to perform, have the proper licensure in order, and then proceed to practice dentistry.

I apologize if this seems judgemental, because that is really not my intention. Your posts simply make me worry for your patients and your future as a practitioner.

 

[capisce?]

What you need to ask yourself is... "Can I walk into a pharmacy and buy any of those things you mentioned without a prescription?" The answer should lead you to know if you need a DEA #.

No, you can prescribe antibiotics without your DEA. The fact that you have your dental license allows you to do that. So, your statement above is incorrect. There is an amazing amount of misinformation on this site. All you have to do is call the pharmacy and tell them the above (they may ask for your license #) and for *most* pharmacies it is not going to be an issue. While waiting for my DEA to come in the mail I called in multiple scripts for antibiotics, chlorhexidine, etc and did not have a single issue. Now there may be insurance coverage issues in some cases but that doesn't impact your ability to prescribe.

 

[Squished Rat]

No, you can prescribe antibiotics without your DEA. The fact that you have your dental license allows you to do that. So, your statement above is incorrect. There is an amazing amount of misinformation on this site. All you have to do is call the pharmacy and tell them the above (they may ask for your license #) and for *most* pharmacies it is not going to be an issue. While waiting for my DEA to come in the mail I called in multiple scripts for antibiotics, chlorhexidine, etc and did not have a single issue. Now there may be insurance coverage issues in some cases but that doesn't impact your ability to prescribe.

Capisce is correct. You do not have to have a DEA # for antibiotics. The director of the group of clinics I work for does not have one. He just prescribes Ultram or Toradol I believe for acute pain. I do think you need to have an NPI though. Can anyone verify?

 

[Daurang]

I am mistaken. It was the NPI# the pharmacy asked me for last week for insurance claim, not the DEA#. They do call once in awhile and ask for the DEA# for amox, which find it strange, but I give it to them anyway.

 

[aphistis]

I don't list my DEA unless I'm writing for a controlled substance. I haven't written as many scripts as a lot of the attendings here, but I've never gotten a phone call from the pharmacist.

 

[Saddleshoes]

Something does sound odd about this whole thread.....

1) Nobody can work as a provider in any of the clinical settings I know of without a DEA# as part of the credentialing process prior to being hired.

2) Senior year in my school we all went through the paper work together to get a DEA# as soon as possible after we graduated.

3) Didn't they include basic prescribing techniques as part of your clinical training?

 

[capisce?]

Something does sound odd about this whole thread.....

1) Nobody can work as a provider in any of the clinical settings I know of without a DEA# as part of the credentialing process prior to being hired.

Uh, sure they can. I'm in private practice as a pediatric dentist and for my credentialing (NC state license) I did not need a DEA. I've got my state license, my pedo certificate, malpractice insurance..all without my DEA and that allows me to practice. I went 1 full month before my DEA came and there were no issues. Again, it is only necessary to prescribe scheduled drugs and is separate from your licensing.

So what part of credentialing requires a DEA number in order to practice? None to my knowledge.

 

[HuyetKiem]

I worked for a whole month with my DEA #. I could only prescribe motrin and abs.

 

[JavadiCavity]

Controlled substances are drugs that have a potential for abuse and psychological and physical dependence; these include substances classified as opiates, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, anabolic steroids, and drugs that are immediate precursors of these classes of substances. DEA lists controlled substances in 21 CFR Part 1308. The substances are divided into five schedules: Schedule I substances have a high potential for abuse and have no accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. These substances may only be used for research, chemical analysis, or manufacture of other drugs. Schedule II-V substances have an accepted medical use and also have a potential for abuse and psychological and physical dependence.

Since you request permission to prescribe certain drugs on each of the schedules, you need to use you DEA # to prescribe them to patients. If the drug isn't on one of the schedules, no DEA # req'd.

 

[xdopaminex]

hey i work at walgreens pharmacy and when we try to submit claims to insurance, the claim is rejected if a DEA number is not associated with the practitioner's name, regardless of whether it's a control or not. this really pisses off the patient, so usually we end up calling the office for the DEA. also, sometimes retired docs try to give rxs but the computer system is getting really smart, when we submit the rx, we get a rejection telling us the doc's license is inactive. so my point is the DEA is important to have even if you aren't prescribing CIIs.

 

[Aznfarmerboi]

I intend to prescribe ibuprofen ( up to 800 mg ), amoxicillin, and clindamycin.

I'm in NYC. Do I need a DEA number when prescribing any of this? ( I can't afford a DEA number at this time )

And what about prescription pads? Aren't the offices supposed to provide you with them?

Also, what if you want to phone in your prescription to a local pharmacy? Do you require anything prior to that phone call?

NYC soon to be pharm Grad here so I know my legal/insurance stuff. You do not need DEA to prescrbe any of the above mentioned. However you do need it for many insurances including medicaid/medicare almost. In addition if your patient goes to out of state, the pharmacist may not be able to verify your license number. DEA is easiest way for out of state pharmacist to find you.

 

[gryffindor]

hey i work at walgreens pharmacy and when we try to submit claims to insurance, the claim is rejected if a DEA number is not associated with the practitioner's name, regardless of whether it's a control or not. this really pisses off the patient, so usually we end up calling the office for the DEA. also, sometimes retired docs try to give rxs but the computer system is getting really smart, when we submit the rx, we get a rejection telling us the doc's license is inactive. so my point is the DEA is important to have even if you aren't prescribing CIIs.

Interesting. So I don't need my DEA number to write the prescription, but the insurance company needs it to pay for the patient's medication? The prescription is between me and the patient, and the state laws govern if I can write it. Why should I care if the insurance company can't figure out if I'm licensed because I don't have a DEA number? Hearing this kind of stuff with insurance companies meddling in my practice makes me mad. 😡

So far in ortho residency, I have written 1 prescription under the hospital's DEA and that was only for a retention patient who showed up as a dental emergency with a perio issue. I don't plan on getting a DEA when I get out for the privilege of writing for a few bottles of chlorhexidine a year. I've gotten by without a DEA as a GP since I've graduated as the owners docs of all the offices I have worked at write any necessary prescriptions for the patients.

 

[gryffindor]

I'm starting to wonder if you are for real. Looking at all of your posts, they have been to either ask about how to do procedures or regarding things you really should already know if you are a practicing dentist (ie- what the schedules of drugs are). That being said, here is my overall advice. Take it or leave it:

1. You seem to be in a horrible practice situation. You don't have a written contract? You are being asked to do things you aren't comfortable doing. You don't know when you will be paid? You need to get out of this situation and into a better one ASAP.

2. Obviously, I'm judging solely based on what you post on SDN, but you seem to be really unsure about what you are doing. You are selling your patients short and you are just welcoming a lawsuit. I would step back, make sure you are comfortable with ALL procedures you are going to perform, have the proper licensure in order, and then proceed to practice dentistry.

I apologize if this seems judgemental, because that is really not my intention. Your posts simply make me worry for your patients and your future as a practitioner.

If you are in NC, then you probably haven't met the graduates from certain schools in the northeast and some of the jobs available in that region. Unfortunately, they make the OP's concerns and statements entirely believable.

 

[doc toothache]

Yes you need it. Pharmacies sometime must have it to process insurance information.

It is needed for prescribing controlled substances before you worry about processing.

You will not find pharmacies carrying class I drugs.

 

[apaul]

It is needed for prescribing controlled substances before you worry about processing.

You will not find pharmacies carrying class I drugs.

why not? shouldnt walgreens carry cocaine and heroin???😉

 

[Aznfarmerboi]

why not? shouldnt walgreens carry cocaine and heroin???😉

We do but not in those forms 🙂

 

[aphistis]

Cocaine is schedule II. Cocaine solutions are still used sometimes for mucosal vasoconstriction before a nasal intubation.

 

[apaul]

🙄