New Jersey News: Prescriptions Lacking a Physician Signature

January 1, 2007 2:53 pm Topics: Electronic prescriptions and Prescribing authority

Reprinted from the January 2007 New Jersey Board of Pharmacy Newsletter.

Confusion has arisen regarding “electronic prescriptions” that are printed and given to a patient. Such prescriptions are considered “written” rather than electronic if presented to a pharmacist for dispensing by a patient, and according to New Jersey Administrative Code (NJAC) 13:35-7.2(d)7, must include “the handwritten original signature of the prescribing practitioner.” NJAC 13:39-7.11(a) defines an electronic prescription only as “a prescription which is transmitted by a computer device in a secure manner, including computer to computer and computer to facsimile transmissions.” NJAC 13:39-7.11(e) further states that electronic prescriptions “shall contain all information required to be included on a written prescription pursuant to New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners rule NJAC 13:35-7.2(d), except that a handwritten original signature and an NJPB [New Jersey Prescription Blank] shall not be required for the prescription.”