What does a hyphen in a DEA number indicate?

A hyphen in a DEA number specifically indicates that the number is associated with a physician's prescription that is being issued under a hospital's DEA registration. This situation arises when a physician who is employed by a hospital utilizes the hospital's DEA number to prescribe controlled substances, often using a suffix added to the DEA number to denote that the prescription is being written under the hospital's authority and not under the physician's personal DEA number.

This aspect of DEA number formatting is crucial for ensuring that prescriptions are valid and verifiable, maintaining a clear record of how and under what registration drugs are prescribed. Understanding this part of DEA number structure helps pharmacists and other professionals in the field to correctly process and verify prescriptions, ensuring compliance with federal regulations regarding controlled substances.