Overview | Search by NDC | Search results | Frequently asked question
Overview
When you're working in the billing section of clinical notes, you can search for a medication using its NDC (National Drug Code) — the unique number printed on a medication's label. Because one NDC can be linked to several different medication names over time, your search results are now organized into two groups so you can quickly find the right one:
- Active medication names that are currently in use
- Inactive medication names that are outdated or no longer used, but may still be relevant for older notes or records
How to Search by NDC
- Go to the billing section of the clinical note.
- In the medication search field, type in the NDC number for the medication you're looking for.
- A dropdown list will appear showing matching medication names.
Understanding the Search Results
Depending on what's found for the NDC you entered, the dropdown will display results one of two ways:
If both active and inactive names exist for that NDC:The dropdown will show two labeled sections:
- Active — names currently in use for that medication
- Inactive — older or obsolete names tied to the same NDC
This lets you tell at a glance which name is the current, standard one and which is outdated.
If no inactive names exist for that NDC:The dropdown will simply show the list of matching medication names, with no "Active" or "Inactive" section headers. Since there's nothing outdated to distinguish, the labels aren't needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I seeing more than one medication name for the same NDC?A single NDC can be associated with multiple medication names over time (for example, if a name changed or was replaced). The system lists all of them so you can pick the correct one for your note.
Which name should I choose?In most cases, you'll want to select a medication name from the Active section, since these reflect the current, standard naming. Only use a name from the Inactive section if you have a specific reason to reference an older or discontinued name.
Why don't I see "Active" or "Inactive" headings for some searches?These headings only appear when there's a mix of active and inactive names. If every result for that NDC is active, the section titles are hidden since there's no need to separate them.
What does "inactive" mean for a medication name?It means the name is considered obsolete — it's no longer the standard or current name used for that medication, even though the NDC itself may still be valid.