Some pharmacy computer
systems check a prescriber’s DEA number. Do you remember how to do it by hand?
Ø The DEA number always has nine
characters: the first two are letters followed by seven numbers.
Ø The first letter is always A, B,
F, M or X. (F was added when all possible numbers starting with A or B were
assigned.) DEA numbers starting with X are assigned to prescribers with a Drug
Addiction Treatment Act (DATA) waiver. DEA numbers starting with M are assigned
to mid-level practitioners.
Ø The second letter is the first
letter of the prescriber’s last name (unless the prescriber married and changed
their last name).
Ø Verify that a DEA number is
authentic by:
a)
Adding the first, third and fifth digits together;
b)
Then add the second, fourth and sixth digits together and multiply this
sum by 2;
c)
Add the results of a and b.
d)
The last digit on the right must match the last digit of the DEA number.
