Vouchers
What is a Voucher?
Vouchers are used to permit a provider to go through an identity proofing process to obtain a certificate from an organization called IdenTrust.  This certificate is used in the process of creating a soft token with a mobile app. Streamline uses IdenTrust for the 2FA part of prescribing controlled substances. This allows providers to electronically prescribe controlled substances.Â
There are two types of vouchers, new and renewal vouchers.Â
New Vouchers
- New vouchers are for providers that are new to the county and system. If the county brings on a new provider that will prescribe controlled substances, they need to request a new voucher.
Renewal Vouchers
- Renewal vouchers are for current prescribers whose certificates are expiring and will need to renew the certificate. IdenTrust certificates expire every two years. When prescribers receive notification that their certificate will expire shortly, they or the county need to request renewal vouchers.
Is it True that Vouchers Expire Every Year?
This all depends on when Streamline purchased the voucher from IdenTrust and when we ask for them. Streamline purchases vouchers in bulk from IdenTrust. Once they are purchased, the one-year expiration date is set. If we happen to ask for the vouchers right when Streamline purchased them, then yes, they will expire in close to a year. If we purchase them 3 months after Streamline purchases them, then they will expire in 9 months.
- Streamline recommends only asking for vouchers for providers that are already in the hiring process or have been hired. They don’t recommend getting them for future hires, or those that haven’t been hired yet. This helps prevent vouchers from expiring before being used.Â
- When a voucher is used and a certificate is generated, the voucher is no longer usable. Its life is done.
- If a voucher hasn’t been used and reaches its expiration date, it can no longer be used.
Certificates
What is a Certificate?
IdenTrust issues certificates to a prescriber once they have successfully completed the identity proofing process. The certificate is activated once it is downloaded and installed on the prescriber’s computer browser. Its 2-year life cycle starts then. The certificate and the IdenTrust HID Approve app on the prescriber’s mobile device are what create the soft token. The soft token is used for 2 factor authentication when prescribing controlled substances
Do Certificates Expire?
Yes, certificates expire in 2 years. Its life cycle begins the moment it is downloaded and installed on the prescriber’s browser. When the certificates get close to expiring IdenTrust sends an email to notify them.Â
Expiration Notification
They should receive one 90 days, 60 days, 30 days, and then a few weeks in advance. The date of expiration should be in the email, and you can time the renewal around that date.
How Can Prescribers See When a Certificate Expires?
There is no mechanism to see when a certificate will expire by anyone else other than the prescriber. They can see when it will expire by logging into their IdenTrust web portal or calling IdenTrust support.
Please be advised that if the certificate expires then they won’t be able to prescribe controlled substances. They will be required to go through the identity proofing process again to obtain a new certificate. SmartCare will need to be updated with the new information.
NOTE: Technically, if a certificate expires, a new voucher will need to be requested. However Streamline has notified us that as of this time, a renewal voucher can be used as a new voucher to create a new certificate.