SB19-079: Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances

• Requires podiatrists, dentists, physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, and optometrists to prescribe Schedule II, III, and IV controlled substances electronically to pharmacies, effective July 1, 2021 (July 1, 2023 for rural practitioners and single-practitioner offices)

• Establishes 11 exceptions to electronic prescribing requirements including temporary technology failures, out-of-state pharmacies, prescriber dispensing directly, federal regulatory restrictions, and prescriptions for fewer than 25 per year

• Allows practitioners to claim economic hardship exceptions with Board approval for periods not exceeding one year, requiring regulatory boards to adopt rules defining hardship and establishing renewal processes

• Requires pharmacists to accept non-electronic prescriptions for controlled substances without verifying compliance with electronic prescribing exceptions when orders are transmitted in non-electronic formats

• Imposes unprofessional conduct penalties on practitioners who fail to accurately answer license renewal questionnaires regarding electronic prescribing compliance