New Mexico News: Electronic Controlled Substance Prescriptions

September 1, 2008 4:35 PM Topics: Controlled substances and Electronic prescriptions

Published in the September 2008 New Mexico Board of Pharmacy Newsletter

An electronically generated controlled substance prescription that is not manually signed by the practitioner, but instead is electronically signed, is not valid. A written prescription for a controlled substance must be manually signed by the practitioner. Schedule III, IV, and V controlled substance prescription information can be transmitted to the pharmacy by telephone. Schedule III, IV, and V controlled substance prescription information can be transmitted to the pharmacy by fax. The original of the faxed prescription must have been manually signed by the practitioner. Manually signed prescription information for Schedule II controlled substances may also be faxed to the pharmacy under certain conditions. Remember, the responsibility for the proper prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances is upon the prescribing practitioner, but a corresponding responsibility rests with the pharmacist who fills the prescription.