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Controlled substance shipments alert

Cardinal Health has communicated the following updates directly to customers concerning our suspension of controlled substance shipments from certain Cardinal Health facilities.

Cardinal Health has been reviewing its controlled-substance ordering procedures, and as a result is implementing near- and long-term enhancements that further guard against distribution to pharmacies that are engaged in diversion. The safety of the pharmaceutical supply chain is among Cardinal Health's top priorities and we are committed to the highest standards as we work with the DEA to resolve this matter.


February 25, 2008

Dear Retail Independent Customer,

As an industry leader, Cardinal Health is committed to maintaining effective controls to ensure that controlled substances, including cough and cold listed chemicals, are not being diverted for abuse. With nearly one in ten high school seniors admitting to abusing powerful prescription painkillers and more deaths from overdose on opioid painkillers than cocaine and heroin, this is a public health issue that everyone involved in the pharmaceutical supply chain must work together to solve. We have been reviewing our controls that guard against distribution to pharmacies engaged in diversion and are aggressively implementing enhancements to those controls.

As an important participant in the controlled substance supply chain, Cardinal Health must take responsible and appropriate actions when our review reveals areas in our system that require particular focus and consideration. This may include placing certain self-imposed restrictions on our handling of controlled substances until we have complete confidence that those areas have appropriate controls.

To that end, Cardinal Health is announcing that effective Wednesday, February 27, we will voluntarily discontinue all controlled substance and List 1 Chemical shipments from our Stafford (Houston), Texas, distribution center to all retail independent, Medicine Shoppe and Medicap pharmacies while we make improvements at this distribution center in our processes to monitor and guard against diversion. As of February 27, we will meet your legitimate controlled substance needs from our Roanoke (Dallas) facility. Please see the attached ordering process you will need to follow.

We recognize that the vast majority of retail independent pharmacies are committed to providing good patient care and do not engage in diversion. We have deep relationships with our retail independent customers and therefore don’t take lightly any actions that could affect customers engaged in the legitimate distribution of controlled substances. Nonetheless, history has shown that most diverters have, unfortunately, been in the retail independent class. Therefore, Cardinal Health has the obligation to enhance its controls to ensure that those engaged in legitimate dispensing are able to obtain adequate supplies to meet their needs, while weeding out those with illegitimate aims. We regret that these few bad apples are affecting all our retail independent customers, and we are committed to minimizing the impact on legitimate customers.

We apologize for the inconvenience this situation creates. Cardinal Health is committed to providing a safe and secure pharmaceutical supply chain. We take these responsibilities very seriously and work diligently to comply with all applicable laws and regulations governing distribution. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this time.

Sincerely,

Cardinal Health

 

Temporary Ordering Process for Stafford Retail Independent Customers

Please following this ordering process for controlled products schedules III-V, and controlled products schedule II. These orders will continue to be subject to our new “Suspicious Order Monitoring” process. This affects only controlled substance shipments to retail independent customers from Stafford.

  1. ORDERING NON-CONTROLS

    Please order all your non-control products from the Stafford Distribution Center as normal. No changes.

  2. ORDERING SCHEDULES III-V AND EPHEDRINE PRODUCTS

    Controlled substances schedule II, schedule III-V, and all Ephedrine Products will need to be ordered using a separate account number, which is available via cardinal.com. These products will ship to you from our Roanoke facility.
    • If you are a cardinal.com customer, you can order your schedule III, IV, and V controlled substances through your online account rather than having to contact Customer Service. Your new account number will be available when you log onto CardinalHealth.com.
    • Current CSOS customers will need to use Blanks during this period.
    • If you have difficulty placing an order through cardinalhealth.com or your account number is not accessible, please call Customer Service for assistance. Call 800.926.3161.
    • You should anticipate the same turnaround in service you receive today for Schedules III-V products for orders placed by 4 p.m. (current cutoff is 8 p.m.). Expect an additional day of turnaround for orders placed after 4 p.m.

  3. ORDERING SCHEDULE II - DEA Form 222 for Schedule II orders

    Address the form as follows:
    Cardinal Health
    851 Henrietta Creek Road
    Roanoke, Tx 76262-6347
    • Note - Please address the forms to “Cardinal Health”; do not list “Cardinal Health-Stafford” or other designation.
    • Your existing driver will continue to pick up your 222’s, per current procedures.
    • You are not required to fax a copy of your 222 during this interim period. The original 222 will be used to key the order.
    • If you mail your 222’s, please mail to the address listed above.
    • Please use your new, temporary Dallas distribution center account number which is available in cardinal.com, or call Customer Service for assistance.
    • You should anticipate an additional day of turnaround for Schedule II products.
    • You will be invoiced under your current terms on your new account number.

  4. CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE AND EPHEDRINE RETURNS

    For the next couple of weeks, we will not be able to process returns of CIIs – V or List 1 chemicals at the Stafford or Roanoke Distribution Center. Therefore, please do not return any controlled substances or Ephedrine products. We also will not be able to issue credit for any controlled substance and Ephedrine products returned in error. We will let you know when we have developed a solution for returns. Thank you for your patience in this matter.

    What you can expect:
    • Deliveries of controlled products will be combined with your deliveries of non-controlled products.
    • Roanoke will not have the capability to handle Saturday or afternoon deliveries.
    • Emergency orders, especially on CIIs, will have at least an eight-hour turn around time.
    • Meeting your needs continues to be one of our top priorities. Please contact your Cardinal Health Sales Consultant or Customer Service if you have any questions regarding this process.