Beginning with dates of service on or after April 1, 2016, the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) will require that providers verify Medicaid members' controlled substance prescription history through the South Carolina Reporting & Identification Prescription Tracking System (SCRIPTS) before issuing a prescription for any Schedule II through IV controlled substance.

Providers must maintain documentation that the SCRIPTS database was verified prior to the issuance of a controlled substance prescription. Failure to perform an evaluation of the SCRIPTS database may result in recoupment of Medicaid funds for the office visit during which the prescription was issued.

For Medicaid members treated chronically with controlled substances, SCDHHS will require that SCRIPTS be consulted at the initiation of therapy and at least every 90 days thereafter.

The following instances are exempt from this requirement:

• Issuance of less than a five-day supply of a controlled substance.
• Issuance of a controlled substance prescription to a Medicaid member who is enrolled in hospice.
• Instances where a controlled substance is administered by a licensed health care provider.

For frequently asked questions (FAQs), please visit www.scdhhs.gov/scriptsfaqs. Please contact the Provider Service Center at 1 (888) 289-0709 for additional information.

Thank you for your continued support of the South Carolina Healthy Connections Medicaid Program.