E-prescribing workflows already rely on NCPDP SCRIPT as the common standard that keeps prescribers, pharmacies, and intermediaries in sync. But that shared foundation is now evolving. The industry is transitioning from the 2017 version of SCRIPT to the newly released 2023 version (SCRIPT 2023011); a change that goes far beyond a technical refresh. As a result, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has set a firm compliance deadline: all Medicare Part D e-prescribing transactions must use SCRIPT 2023 by December 31, 2027.
After that, only the new version will be accepted for Part D prescriptions. For vendors, prescribers, and pharmacies, this means rethinking timelines, certification cycles, and integration strategies to stay aligned with federal expectations and industry adoption.
Why This Change Matters
You might wonder, is this really a big deal? The answer is yes, and here’s why it matters to everyone in the prescribing and pharmacy world:
It’s the Backbone of E-Prescribing
The NCPDP SCRIPT standard is the common language for e-prescriptions. It’s how different systems communicate seamlessly. The new 2023 update isn’t just a technical formality; it’s an evolution of that backbone. Since SCRIPT is the basis of most e-prescribing workflows (including those for controlled substances, via EPCS), any change to it reverberates widely. In other words, SCRIPT is “in widespread use by the industry as the core standard for E-Prescribing”. When SCRIPT changes, everyone from EHR vendors to pharmacy IT systems must adapt.
Compliance Is Not Optional
This isn’t an optional tech upgrade you can put off indefinitely. If you serve Medicare Part D patients (which includes the majority of pharmacies and many prescribers), you are required by federal regulation to use the updated standard by the deadline. CMS has effectively made SCRIPT 2023 the law of the land for Part D e-prescribing. That means failing to adopt it by 2028 could put you out of compliance (and out of the Part D network).
It Impacts Controlled Substance Prescribing (EPCS)
For Drummond customers and any providers using Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances (EPCS) systems, this change hits especially close to home. Why? Because EPCS runs on the SCRIPT standard. Every controlled substance e-prescription that gets sent to a pharmacy is formatted using NCPDP SCRIPT messaging.
The majority of Drummond’s EPCS-certified vendors rely on these SCRIPT messages to transmit both controlled and non-controlled prescriptions securely. Upgrading the SCRIPT standard, therefore, isn’t just a general IT update, it directly affects how your EPCS workflows operate. In practical terms, if you’re using an EHR or pharmacy system that’s certified for EPCS, you will need that system updated to SCRIPT 2023 to continue sending prescriptions (especially controlled substance Rx) once the deadline hits.
In short, SCRIPT 2023 matters because it underpins interoperability, it’s legally required for many, and it touches critical workflows like controlled substance prescribing that our industry depends on daily.
Impact on EPCS Certification
Now, let’s talk about something that might not be immediately obvious: how adopting the new SCRIPT standard affects your EPCS certification. If you’re a Drummond EPCS customer (for example, an EHR vendor or pharmacy system that’s been certified for electronic prescribing of controlled substances), you know that maintaining compliance is an ongoing process.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) requires EPCS systems to be audited or certified by a third party not just once, but regularly. In fact, federal law (21 CFR §1311.300) stipulates that any electronic prescribing application for controlled substances must undergo a new third-party audit at least every two years, or whenever a functionality related to controlled-substance prescribing is altered. In plain terms: if you change something significant in your EPCS software, you can’t just self-declare it compliant; you need an auditor (like Drummond or another DEA-approved certifier) to review it again, even if your two-year cycle isn’t up yet.
This has a crucial implication: if you don’t plan for this, you could end up facing dual testing cycles (potentially an extra audit just for SCRIPT 2023 adoption) on top of your regular DEA 2-year re-certification. For example, imagine your product’s DEA certification is due for renewal in 2026. If you procrastinate on SCRIPT 2023 until late 2027, you might have to rush through a special update audit for the SCRIPT changes separate from your 2026 renewal test.
That’s added time and cost, which every vendor wants to avoid. Nobody wants to scramble through back-to-back (or overlapping) certification projects if they can help it.
The good news is, with early planning you can avoid the double-testing trap. The strategy is to fold the SCRIPT 2023 update into your regular EPCS certification cycle. Align the timing so that when your next DEA-mandated audit comes up (the “every two years” check), you’ve already implemented SCRIPT 2023 or are ready to test it. That way, one audit can serve both purposes; re-certifying your EPCS solution and verifying the new SCRIPT standard functionality in one go. This approach minimizes disruption to your development and QA teams and can save a lot of money and headaches.
Why Early Adoption is Strategic
It might be tempting to slow-walk this change, but acting sooner rather than later offers benefits that extend well beyond certification efficiency. Early adoption provides two more distinct advantages that can shape how smoothly and successfully your organization navigates this transition:
Risk Reduction – No Last-Minute Scramble
Procrastination in compliance can be costly. Waiting until 2027 to start your SCRIPT 2023 transition could leave you in a frantic rush, and rushing is how mistakes get made. By contrast, early adoption gives you a buffer. You have time to identify and iron out any integration bugs, to train staff, to coordinate with partners (like pharmacy networks or EHR users) well before the deadline.
You’ll also avoid the scenario of trying to book a certification lab at the eleventh hour when everyone else is doing the same. Starting now means when January 1, 2028 arrives, you’re not sweating bullets, you’ll already be compliant and confident.
Competitive Advantage
Being ahead of the curve isn’t just a bragging right; it’s a business advantage. If you’re a vendor or provider that serves clients, being able to say “We’re SCRIPT 2023 ready” well before 2027 can set you apart. It assures your customers (be they pharmacies, hospitals, or prescribers) that you’re proactive about compliance and innovation.
In an RFP or a sales conversation, that readiness can tip the scales. Even on LinkedIn or in industry forums, organizations that lead on regulatory compliance tend to be seen as thought leaders and trusted partners.
Plus, early adopters will have more time to refine their implementations, so by the time others are scrambling to switch, you’ll have a mature, tested solution. Think of it as reaching the finish line before your competitors have even laced up their shoes.
Key Takeaways
The move to NCPDP SCRIPT 2023 is one of the most significant changes in e-prescribing standards in recent years. It’s not a minor tweak or a simple software patch (it’s a major upgrade to the language that pharmacies and prescribers use to communicate). And importantly, it comes with a firm compliance deadline: after December 31, 2027, the old standard will no longer cut it.
If you’re a Drummond customer (or even if you’re not and just looking for guidance), we encourage you to reach out and coordinate your SCRIPT 2023 adoption strategy with your EPCS certification cycle. We’re here to help you navigate the technical requirements, testing process, and timeline management so that you can confidently meet this mandate. In the end, this isn’t just about checking a compliance box, it’s about positioning your organization for continued success in e-prescribing, with robust interoperability, enhanced safety features, and up-to-date credentials.
Early action now means fewer headaches later. By approaching SCRIPT 2023 proactively, organizations can turn this mandate into an opportunity to strengthen performance and keep the e-prescribing ecosystem running seamlessly into the future.