AR SB174

Practitioners must issue prescriptions for Schedule II through Schedule VI controlled substances electronically to pharmacies, effective January 1, 2021 or upon Attorney General certification of federal requirement, whichever is later.

Veterinarians and practitioners may use written, oral, or faxed prescriptions in specified circumstances including out-of-state pharmacy dispensing, FDA-required prescription elements not captured electronically, nonpatient-specific prescriptions, research protocols, and situations where electronic prescribing is impractical or unavailable.

Practitioners may obtain waivers from the electronic prescribing requirement due to economic hardship, technological limitations, or exceptional circumstances, with federal waivers valid in Arkansas.

Pharmacists are not required to verify that written, oral, or faxed prescriptions fall under authorized exceptions and may continue dispensing valid prescriptions consistent with state and federal law.

Licensing boards may impose civil penalties of $250 per violation, and the requirement does not apply to prescriptions written by Department of Correction or Department of Community Corrections employees.