NC S570

Establishes standards for practitioners to electronically transmit prescriptions for controlled substances to pharmacies, effective October 1, 2013

Requires electronic prescriptions to include transmitter's phone number, transmission time and date, intended pharmacy, practitioner's digital signature or key code, and other federally or state-required information

Mandates prescriptions be transmitted directly from practitioner to pharmacy of patient's choice with security measures preventing access or alteration by intermediaries; allows verbal, fax, or written alternatives if pharmacy cannot accept electronic prescriptions

Requires electronic prescribing software and hardware to provide real-time access to controlled substances, formulary information, clinical decision-making data, prior authorization tools, and prohibits use of advertising that economically incentivizes prescribing decisions

Preserves health insurance plans' authority to impose exclusions, quantity limits, prior authorization requirements, step edits, and other utilization management tools