How to Complete the EPCS (Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances) Enrollment Process

If your provider needs to be set up to electronically prescribe controlled substances (EPCS), follow the steps outlined below to complete the enrollment process in Office Ally.

Before We Begin:

Before starting the EPCS enrollment process, make sure the provider has an ID.me account and that pop-up blockers are disabled in their browser. Only one ID.me account can be associated with each provider, so ensure login credentials are available.

Step 1: Designate an Enroller and Approver

Before a provider can begin enrollment, you must assign two roles:

• Enroller: A child user with administrative rights (cannot be the Security Admin account or the initial provider looking to become EPCS enabled)

• Approver: Must be a provider with active EPCS access or the initial provider gaining EPCS access if no others exist.

To designate these roles:

1. Log into your _sa (Security Admin) account.

2. From the left menu, click Manage Users.

3. Click Edit next to the user you want to assign as the Enroller. Note: The Security Admin account cannot be selected as an Enroller.

4. Ensure the Administrative Rights checkbox is selected.

5. Scroll to the bottom and click Show Advanced Settings.

6. Under EPCS Settings, select whether the user is the Enroller or Approver.

7. Click Next twice to confirm and save your changes.

8. A confirmation message will be displayed once the user has been successfully updated.

Step 2: Request EPCS Enrollment (Provider Action)

Once roles are assigned, the provider can begin the EPCS enrollment process.

1. Log into Practice Mate or EHR.

2. Navigate to the Manage Office tab.

3. Under the e-Prescribe section, click Register.

4. A new tab will open prompting the provider to choose between non-controlled and controlled substances.  

If no new tab opens, ensure pop-up blockers are disabled in the browser.

Step 3: Enroll the Provider (Enroller Action)

After the provider initiates registration, the designated Enroller must complete the enrollment.

1. Log into Practice Mate or EHR.

2. Go to the Manage Office tab.

3. Under e-Prescribe, click EPCS User Management.

4. Locate the provider and click Enroll to begin the enrollment process.

Step 4: ID Proofing (Provider Action)

Once enrolled, the provider must verify their identity through ID.me.

1. Log into Practice Mate or EHR.

2. Navigate to the Manage Office tab.

3. Under e-Prescribe, select My EPCS Account.

4. A new tab will open. Click Log In with ID.me.

5. Follow the ID.me instructions to verify identity.

Have a legal ID and smartphone ready to install the ID.me Authenticator app.

6. Once verification is complete, close the tab.

Step 5: Approve the Provider (Approver Action)

After ID verification, the Approver must finalize the provider’s EPCS setup.

1. Log into Practice Mate or EHR.

2. Navigate to the Manage Office tab.

3. Under e-Prescribe, select EPCS User Management.

4. Locate the provider and click Approve.

5. In the pop-up, check all 3 legal verification boxes.

6. Enter your Office Ally password and ID.me security code from the Authenticator app.

7. A confirmation message will appear. The enrollment is now complete.

After Enrollment:

Once EPCS is approved:

• The provider is now authorized to electronically prescribe controlled substances.

• If not already completed, schedule the Office Ally OA-RX Training Webinar.

This can be done via the Tech Training link once logged in to Office Ally.