SB 972 Summary

• Adds three new definitions to Hawaii's Uniform Controlled Substances Act: "electronic prescription," "electronic prescription application," and "electronic signature" to align with federal Drug Enforcement Administration regulations.

• Permits pharmacists to dispense Schedule II controlled substances upon receipt of an electronic prescription, making electronic prescribing optional for practitioners and pharmacies.

• Allows practitioners to electronically transmit prescriptions for Schedule II, III, IV, and V controlled substances directly to a pharmacy of the patient's choice, subject to federal confidentiality and security requirements.

• Prohibits unauthorized use of a practitioner's electronic prescription application or unauthorized transmission of electronic prescriptions as violations of controlled substance laws.

• Maintains existing requirements for written and facsimile prescriptions while adding electronic prescriptions as an additional voluntary method for controlled substance prescribing.