Every prescription for a controlled substance requires the physician's signature and what additional number?

The requirement for a physician's signature on a prescription for a controlled substance emphasizes the importance of legal and regulatory compliance in prescribing practices. In addition to the physician's signature, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) number is essential because it uniquely identifies the healthcare provider authorized to prescribe controlled substances. This number is critical in preventing prescription fraud and ensuring that the prescribing of controlled substances is monitored and properly documented.

The DEA number helps pharmacists and other healthcare professionals verify that the provider is indeed registered and permitted to prescribe these medications, which are classified under various schedules depending on their potential for abuse. This regulation is an important component of controlled substance management in order to enhance patient safety and minimize the risks associated with misuse.

Other numbers, such as the National Provider Identifier (NPI), Social Security Number (SSN), or Personal Identification Number (PIN), do not serve this specific purpose in the context of controlled substance prescriptions. The NPI pertains to health provider identification but is not mandatory on controlled substance prescriptions. The SSN is confidential personal information that has no relevance to medication prescriptions, while a PIN does not have an established connection to this regulatory requirement.