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Prescription fraud, which can be elaborated by the exact term as “pharmaceutical diversion,” is defined as the criminal acquisition of prescription drugs for personal use or profit. This definition of prescription fraud does not include the other related terms like theft, burglary, backdoor pharmacies, and illegal importation or distribution of prescription drugs.

Prescription fraud is the most dominant kind of a health care fraud, since the new century had started, the problem has grown significantly and the major reason which is daunting the health care and safety measures is the inflation in the medication cost. A common man, who had already hit by an extreme bought of a recession, is compelled to buy a 2nd grade to third grade medicine to reduce the cost of his health care. And this is the cause of the major prescription failure and fraud.

The second reason which has a great deal is that the number of people are abused by the “Backdoor pharmacies”, which are businesses not licensed/authorized to distribute pharmaceutical drugs. On the other hand people commit prescription fraud in different ways, like forging prescriptions, multiple prescriptions by multiple doctor interventions (doctor shopping), and altering the prescriptions to increase quantity.

Prescription fraud is a very complex health care crime. Limited awareness and lack of oversight among doctors, pharmacists and the patients may also contribute to the problem. Identifying the different faulty factors in prescribing, dispensing and administration of medication may help in reduction of this dangerous health care crime.

Prescription Fraud: Tips to Escape a Major Health Care Crime and Disaster at the Pharmacy

Knowing the prescriber, his signature, DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) number and knowing the patient is primary task.

Checking the prescription date is essential and is it presented within a reasonable time?

Contacting the doctor/ prescriber by a telephone for verification or clarification if you have any questions.

If you believe that there is doubt in prescription details, request proper identification. Doing so increases offenders’ risk of getting caught.

Build up a strategy to track the prescriptions written by the doctor and administer it accordingly with the name of the patient to whom the prescription was given; the drug that was prescribed; the number of tablets prescribed; and the dosage amounts.

Prescriptions can only be made and written by licensed and accredited doctor/ physician, including the accreditation seal and the signature on a temper-proof prescription pad.

Refuse to call-in prescriptions unless they are backed up with written prescriptions that must be provided by the patient at the time of pickup.

Use a prescription drug monitoring program to monitor who access drugs. It is a part of the job to look for the obvious signs that include the appropriate dozing and refills.

Electronic prescription method is the best way to counter the false, forged and altered prescriptions as the doctor transmits the prescription directly to the pharmacist.

Training to detect fraudulent prescriptions is essential for the pharmacists and the doctors may also discuss their prescription writing criteria with the local pharmacists regularly.

A strong relationship with local pharmacists is important as they are often the first to detect a diversion or fraud attempt.

Conclusion to Consider:

Prescription fraud is a particularly interesting information security management issue because it occurs in an information intensive domain, that of drug use and management. Increased security measures help prevent prescription fraud and reduce counterfeit losses. By reducing the inflation in the medication cost can also suppress the prescription fraud situation in a massive way as the patient can easily reach his Doctor’s prescribed medication without opting a self-medication danger.…