Ala. Admin. Code r. 680-X-3-.10

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 680-X-3-.10 - Facsimile Prescription Drug Orders For Controlled Substances

(1) A prescription drug order which is transmitted by an electronic device which sends an exact copy image to the receiver (pharmacy) over telephone lines.

(2) Faxing Schedule II prescriptions:

(a) Faxing a Schedule II for a home infusion and/or I.V. pain therapy patient - A prescription, written for a Schedule II substance to be compounded for the direct administration to a home infusion patient by parenteral, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous or intraspinal infusion, may be transmitted directly from the prescribing practitioner, by the practitioner or the practitioner's agent to the pharmacy by facsimile. The facsimile serves as the original written prescription. This exception does not apply to any other dosage forms.

(b) Faxing a Schedule II for a long term care patient -A prescription written for a Schedule II substance, forlong-term care patients, which include hospice patients, may be transmitted directly from the prescribing individual practitioner, by the practitioner or the practitioner's agent, to the provider pharmacy by facsimile. The facsimile serves as the original written prescription.

(3) Faxing for a long term care patient to a pharmacy:

(a) A pharmacist may accept a fax prescription for a long term care patient provided:

1. For Schedule II drugs, all requirements of a written prescription are met, including the prescriber's signature on the faxed order and it is faxed by the nurse/person the physician has designated as his/her "agent" to transmit the order, and must contain the nurse/person's signature.

2. For drugs other than Schedule II, the order is faxed by the nurse/person the physician has designated as his/her "agent" to transmit the order, and must contain the nurse/person's signature.

3. The pharmacist verifies the fax is from the machine of the designated nurse/person.

(4) Faxed prescriptions.

(a) A pharmacist may dispense directly a controlled substance listed in Schedule III, IV or V which is a prescription drug, or any legend drug, only pursuant to either a written prescription signed by a prescribing individual practitioner or a facsimile of a written signed prescription transmitted directly by the prescribing practitioner, or the practitioner's agent, to the pharmacy or pursuant to an oral prescription made by a prescribing individual practitioner, or the practitioner's agent, and promptly reduced to writing by the pharmacist.

(b) All laws and regulations applicable to oral prescription drug orders shall also apply to all facsimile orders including, but not limited to, generic substitution, maintenance of records, information required, etc.

(c) A prescription order transmitted by facsimile device shall contain all prescription information required by federal and state law.

(d) A pharmacist may dispense prescription orders transmitted by fax only when signed by the prescribing practitioner and transmitted from the practitioner's office or a long term care facility in compliance with all sections of this document.

(e) The original fax shall be assigned the number of the prescription dispensed, and maintained in pharmacy records for at least two (2) years.

(f) The receiving fax machine must be in the prescription department of the pharmacy to protect patient/pharmacist authorized prescribing practitioner confidentially and security.

(g) Refill authorizations for prescriptions, other than Schedule II, may be transmitted using a facsimile device.

Author: Jerry Moore, R. Ph., Executive

Ala. Admin. Code r. 680-X-3-.10

New Rule: Filed January 13, 1999; effective February 17, 1999; operative March 1, 1999.

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-23-92.