Senate Bill 12-037 Summary

• Allows pharmacies to dispense Schedule II controlled substances based on electronic prescription drug orders created and transmitted in accordance with 21 CFR 1311, in addition to traditional written prescriptions.

• Permits non-pharmacy practitioners to dispense Schedule II, III, IV, and V controlled substances directly to patients without requiring a written prescription.

• Expands emergency dispensing provisions to allow pharmacists to dispense up to a 72-hour supply of Schedule II substances when the prescribing practitioner cannot provide a written or electronically transmitted prescription order.

• Requires prescribing practitioners to deliver written or electronically transmitted prescription orders to pharmacists within 72 hours after an emergency oral prescription is dispensed, with electronic transmission now accepted as a delivery method.

• Clarifies that prescription orders for Schedule III, IV, and V substances must not be filled or refilled more than six months after the order date or refilled more than five times.