HID Global®, a worldwide leader in trusted identity solutions, shared its expertise in electronic prescriptions at today’s opioid policy hearing that was conducted by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). HID is urging policymakers to address the opioid abuse crisis in the United States by linking electronic prescriptions for controlled substances (EPCS) with prescription drug monitoring program databases. Electronic prescriptions of painkillers (opioids), such as oxycodone, morphine and methadone, will help modernize public health practices.

The country’s opioid abuse crisis creates a demand for a new level of trust to be injected into the entire process of doctors’ prescribing painkillers. E-prescriptions with digital certificates would accomplish this goal.

“Electronic prescriptions for controlled substances would greatly reduce fraudulent prescriptions, doctor shopping and, ultimately, the opioid abuse epidemic,” said Brad Jarvis, Vice President of IAM Solutions with HID Global. “We believe that electronic prescriptions would curb the over-prescribing of opioids and prevent the highly addictive drugs from falling into the wrong hands. People’s lives will be saved.”

Additional benefits of electronic prescriptions include automated tracking, improved risk assessments, increased efficiencies and better communication. EPCS transactions that are digitally signed by prescribers with digital certificates are non-reputable and secure from the prescriber through to the pharmacy that fulfills the prescription.

“Some electronic healthcare record applications have the ability today to pull state prescription drug monitoring program data at the time of an EPCS transaction, making prescription monitoring program compliance simpler for providers while exponentially increasing the effectiveness of these programs,” said Jerry Cox, a subject matter expert on digital certificates within HID Global’s IdenTrust business. Cox testified at the FDA’s Opioid Policy Steering Committee meeting in Silver Spring, Maryland earlier today.

HID’s IdenTrust business supplies digital certificates, which are used in electronic prescription transactions, among a wide range of other applications. IdenTrust is recognized by government agencies, global financial institutions and corporations around the world. IdenTrust products enable organizations to effectively manage the risks associated with identity authentication, work interoperably with countries around the world, minimize investment in creating their own policies and legal frameworks, and ensure trust in the identity of a person or thing. Recently, HID’s IdenTrust business was recognized as the fastest-growing certification authority in the world.

Stay Connected with HID Global

Visit our Media Center, read our Industry Blog, and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. If you have any questions or are interested in partnering with HID Global on electronic prescriptions or other digital solutions, you can e-mail trustedidentity@hidglobal.com.

About HID Global

HID Global powers the trusted identities of the world’s people, places and things. We make it possible for people to transact safely, work productively and travel freely. Our trusted identity solutions give people convenient access to physical and digital places and connect things that can be identified, verified and tracked digitally. Millions of people around the world use HID products and services to navigate their everyday lives, and over 2 billion things are connected through HID technology. We work with governments, educational institutions, hospitals, financial institutions, industrial businesses and some of the most innovative companies on the planet. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, HID Global has over 3,000 employees worldwide and operates international offices that support more than 100 countries. HID Global® is an ASSA ABLOY Group brand. For more information, visit www.hidglobal.com.

© 2018 HID Global Corporation/ASSA ABLOY AB. All rights reserved. HID, HID Global, the HID Blue Brick logo, the Chain Design and ActivID are trademarks or registered trademarks of HID Global, ASSA ABLOY AB, or its affiliates(s) in the US and other countries and may not be used without permission. All other trademarks, service marks, and product or service names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.