About
From the Navigation Menu within NSS, clinicians can easily access Pharmacy Messages which contain Change Requests, Cancellation Updates, and Renewal Requests in DrFirst.
Process a Renewal Request
A Renewal Request is a message from the pharmacy requesting a refill for the client.
- Navigate to Pharmacy Messages: Navigation Menu > DRFIRST - MESSAGES.
Note: Pharmacy Messages can also be accessed within DrFirst by clicking the Messages button at the top right corner of the page.  |
- If you need to filter your search, select a Provider from the View Messages For drop-down.
- From the Message Type drop-down, select Renewal Request.
- Click + to expand a specific request and review the details.
- In the Response section, you can perform one or both of the following workflows:
- Select an Action from the drop-down as defined by DrFirst:
- Deny: Denies the request and sends a denial message to the pharmacy.
- Change: Allows you to change the prescription and/or pharmacy information. The prescription becomes a pending prescription in the appropriate Provider’s Prescription Report when the prescription is changed. This alerts the pharmacy that the requested renewal has been denied, but a new prescription will follow.
- Renew plus (X) refills: Renews the prescription with the desired amount of additional refills. When you choose the appropriate refills, you are authorizing this fill plus X refills of the medication.
- Forward: Allows a staff member to forward the prescription request to another qualified prescriber in the Agency.
- Remove: Should only be used if you have previously handled this request and it is a duplicate.
- Enter a response into the Response Notes to Pharmacist text field.
- Click the Send button.
Respond to a Change Request
A Change Request is an electronic request from the pharmacy. It is the Provider’s responsibility to review and make a decision, best practice is within 48 hours. Change Requests can be for:
- Prior authorization: sent by a pharmacy when a prior authorization number is needed to fill a prescription.
- Generic substitution: sent by a pharmacy when they are requesting that the prescriber allow a generic medication to be dispensed.
- Therapeutic interchange: sent by a pharmacy when a pharmacist needs clarification about the medication dosing amount or if they find a conflict and suggest a different medication that could be a viable alternative to the original prescription.
- Navigate to Pharmacy Messages: Navigation Menu > DRFIRST - MESSAGES.
Note: Pharmacy Messages can also be accessed within DrFirst by clicking the Messages button at the top right corner of the page. |
- If you need to filter your search, select a Provider from the View Messages For drop-down.
- From the Message Type drop-down, select Change Request.
- Click + to expand a specific request and review the details.
- In the Response section of the Change Request, select an Action from the drop-down. The actions list changes depending on the type of prescription the message is associated with. Below are the options defined by DrFirst:
- Prior Authorization:
- Approved by Payer: Approves the medication prescribed by the provider (*PRIOR AUTHORIZATION CONFIRMATION NUMBER is required).
- Denied by payer: Denies the request and sends a denial message to the pharmacy. You must select a Denial Reason from the drop-down selections.
- Forward: Allows you to forward the request to another Provider in the Agency.
- Prior authorization not attempted: Denies the request and sends a denial message to the pharmacy.
- Cancel -deny the change request and cancel the original prescription: Denies the request and cancels the original prescription.
- Generic Substitution or Therapeutic Interchange:
- Approve selected alternative: Approves the alternative that was selected based on the pharmacy’s suggestion.
- Deny - deny the change request and keep original prescription: Denies the change request and keeps the original prescription.
- Forward: Allows you to forward the request to another Provider in the Agency.
- Modify suggested: Allows you to change the prescription details and/or pharmacy information. When this is selected and the prescription is changed, the prescription becomes a pending prescription in the appropriate Provider’s prescription report. This alerts the pharmacy that the requested change has been denied, but a new prescription will follow.
- Choose a new drug: Allows you to choose a different drug to prescribe. When this is selected and the prescription is changed, the prescription becomes a pending prescription in the appropriate Provider’s prescription report. This alerts the pharmacy that the requested change has been denied, but a new prescription will follow.
- Cancel - deny the change request and cancel the original prescription: Denies the request and cancels the original prescription.
- Enter your Signature Password and click the Send button.