ID H0480

Prescriptions or drug orders must be issued for a legitimate medical purpose arising from a documented prescriber-patient relationship that includes patient evaluation to establish diagnoses and identify contraindications.

Prescriptions may be received by licensed pharmacies through facsimile transmission from the prescribing practitioner, the practitioner's agent, or from a health care facility.

Verbal prescriptions received by licensed nurses in health care facilities may be sent by facsimile to a licensed pharmacy if the transmitted document includes the prescriber's name, the transcribing nurse's name, and the name of the person sending the facsimile.

When no refills remain on an existing prescription, a practitioner's agent may sign and return a refill request via facsimile if the request is generated by the pharmacy, is for medication the patient currently takes, contains no changes to drug type or strength, and includes all components of a valid drug order.

It is unlawful for practitioners to knowingly issue invalid prescriptions or drug orders, and unlawful for pharmacists or veterinarians to knowingly fill invalid prescriptions or drug orders.