All medications have a National Drug Code (NDC). This article will define NDC and review the errors received when prescribing.
- What is a National Drug Code (NDC)
- What National Drug Code (NDC) error means when prescribing
- Why is a National Drug Code (NDC) not available
What is a National Drug Code (NDC)
All medications are assigned a National Drug Code (NDC) by the FDA when a new drug is released.
In its full form, it specifies brand, ingredient, manufacturer, and packaging. Surescripts, the electronic pharmacy network, requires than an NDC be sent with the transmitted prescription. In the past, when the doctor selected a medication without an NDC, NewCrop sent a “supply flag.” This eliminated the need for an NDC, allowing the prescription to slip through the transmission process. Surescripts no longer allows this workaround. Thus, the new feature you are seeing.
What National Drug Code (NDC) error means when prescribing
When a National Drug Code (NDC) is no longer available you will see the following error message, highlighted below:
*Drug cannot be transmitted due to missing National Drug Code (NDC).*
1. Search for and select the “Generic” name of the medication.
2. Search for and select an “Alternative” medication.
Why is a National Drug Code (NDC) not available
There are at least two cases when a National Drug Code (NDC) is not available:
1. “Ingredient” when there is only a branded drug.
Many doctors, especially academics, always prescribe by the ingredient. The pharmacy has no problem filling the rx. However, Surescripts no longer allows this. Therefore, if the doc selects the ingredient, we force a switch to the brand.
Note “ingredient” not “generic”. Generic means the patent is expired and there are often multiple manufacturers. This drug does not have a “generic.” It does have the ingredient and the single brand name.
2. “Obsolete” brand name.
This occurs when an older drug is no longer manufactured under the brand name, but the ingredient is available as a generic.
An example is Amoxil, an old brand name for amoxicillin. Doctors still hand-write “Amoxil.” The pharmacy has no problem dispensing generic amoxicillin. Again, Surescripts no longer allows sending “Amoxil.” If an obsolete brand name is selected, the user will be forced to switch to the equivalent generic.(Another example is Elavil, an obsolete name for amitriptyline.) ”