--- title: Product Overview slug: eprescribing/guide/product-overview docTags: createdAt: 2026-06-11T13:26:22.621Z --- # About Electronic Prescribing Electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) gives healthcare professionals in all care settings safer and more efficient electronic prescription management. The Surescripts E-Prescribing service supports prescriber-initiated e-prescribing message transmission from the prescribing system to the patient's pharmacy of choice. Network e-prescribing also includes transmission of pharmacy-initiated messages. A list of prescriber-initiated and pharmacy-initiated messages are provided below and will be updated periodically with document version changes. The following messages should be supported per contract specifications: **Prescriber-initiated** - CancelRx - Census - DrugAdministration - NewRx - NewRxResponseDenied - Recertification - Resupply - RxChangeResponse - RxFillIndicatorChange - RxRenewalResponse **Pharmacy-initiated** - CancelRxResponse - NewRxRequest - RxChangeRequest - RxFill - RxRenewalRequest - RxTransferInitiationRequest - RxTransfer - RxTransferConfirm Customers utilizing other Surescripts solutions will want to consider how those solutions can enhance their e-prescribing messages. # About Electronic Prescribing for Controlled Substances (EPCS) E-Prescribing for Controlled Substances (EPCS) integrates into existing technology and workflows to offer dimensions of safety and security for controlled substance prescriptions. Prescribing systems and pharmacy systems will be allowed to send and receive fillable messages for controlled substances on the Surescripts network when they have completed the following: - Updated their e-prescribing software to meet all requirements specified by the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the Interim Final Rule and the NCPDP SCRIPT messaging version that support EPCS. - Undergone a third-party audit to ensure the software meets all DEA EPCS requirements. - Achieved Surescripts Certification to this guide. - Made audit results available to Surescripts with a Proof of Audit Letter & Surescripts EPCS Audit Attestation Form. # About This Guide The Surescripts E-Prescribing Companion Guide was created to assist customers responsible for developing a system interface for these e-prescribing messages. :::hint{type="info"} **Note**: This is early adopter documentation. Information is subject to change. ::: This guide is meant to support, integrate, and further clarify the NCPDP standard schemas, implementation guides, and best practices as used through the Surescripts network. It does not reproduce the base standard in its entirety. Requirements beyond those in the NCPDP documentation are called out in this guide and are also enforceable. Surescripts enforces these requirements through certification testing, Application Certification requirements, business rules and compliance protocols. Customers should read and comprehend the associated standards prior to reading this guide. :::hint{type="info"} **Note: **The terms "message" and "transaction" are used interchangeably throughout this guide. ::: # Note Usage Throughout the guide, different note styles are used for the following purposes: :::hint{type="info"} **Note: **This is used when a Note is required for content specific to Surescripts. ::: :::hint{type="warning"} **Reference**: This is used when referencing NCPDP documentation. ::: ✅ **Quality Check**: This is used when referencing an E-Prescribing quality guideline. The purpose of the quality guidelines is to provide e-prescribing clinicians, prescribing system vendors, and pharmacy system vendors with guidance regarding key principles and best practices to consider when initiating and transmitting e-prescribing transactions. It should be noted that the best practices described within this companion guide are based on proven strategies that have been successfully implemented by prescribing and pharmacy system vendors. # Document References Please reference the following resources when reading this guide: | **Surescripts provided materials ** | | --------------------------------------------------------------------- | | [Directory Implementation Guide](docId\:weWxqY1rX7_g9QXaSPWYx) | | [Connectivity and Authentication Guide](docId\:yJ54zGjRQH5Jj6R71e7w_) | :::hint{type="info"} **Note**: The E-Prescribing Translation Matrix is available for download by clicking the button below ::: ::File{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/presign/nzvdgTvfVS_p3vhW_vsy3/Exg1_1seiyxet4HqBZd7c_e-prescribing-translation-matrix.xlsx" label="E-Prescribing Translation Matrix.xlsx"} | **External materials to be obtained by the customer (available at **[www.NCPDP.org](http://www.NCPDP.org)**)** | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **NCPDP SCRIPT Standard 2023011 files**:
**Note**: Schema files version may change and will not be considered final until published in the Generally Available guide.
* XML files (schemas) 20230115 * NCPDP SCRIPT Implementation Guide V2023011 (May 2024 republication) * XML Standard Guide V2022071 * Note: The XML Standard only updates when the guide changes. The latest version is 2022071. NCPDP does not retroactively update XML versions with each new SCRIPT/Specialized Standard. This Standards Matrix shows the XML Guide version for each Standard * V2023011 SCRIPT Standards Examples Guide V10 | | NCPDP Structured and Codified Sig Format Implementation Guide (latest version) | | NCPDP SCRIPT Implementation Recommendations (latest version) | | NCPDP's External Code List (ECL) V202301 (NCPDP online tool) | *** **NCPDP SCRIPT** This guide utilizes the NCPDP (National Council for Prescription Drug Programs) messaging standard Prescriber/Pharmacist Interface SCRIPT version 2023011 as a baseline. To become an NCPDP member, please go to [https://www.ncpdp.org/Membership.aspx](https://www.ncpdp.org/Membership.aspx). The NCPDP SCRIPT Standard 2023011 package contains a complete list of fields and additional requirements. Customers should read and comprehend the associated standards prior to reading this guide. NCPDP is an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited Standard Development Organization. The NCPDP “SCRIPT” standard is a copyrighted document and may be obtained by contacting: NCPDP 9240 E. Raintree Drive Scottsdale, AZ 85260-7518 Phone: (480) 477-1000 Fax: (480) 767-1042 [https://www.ncpdp.org](https://www.ncpdp.org)