Vermont News: Faxing Prescriptions Explanation of Current Law

September 3, 2008 2:31 PM Topics: Prescriptions

Published in the September 2008 Vermont Board of Pharmacy Newsletter

Note: Rules about electronic transmissions of prescriptions are being revised. Please consult the Board of Pharmacy Web site for the current status of the revisions to the rules.

Schedule II drugs may be faxed to pharmacies if the fax is of an actual hand-signed prescription; however, the pharmacy cannot dispense Schedule II drugs until the original handwritten prescription is pre¬sented to the pharmacist. See Code of Federal Regulations 1306.11.

Schedule III through V drugs may be filled upon receipt of a fax of the actual handwritten prescription. However, a faxed copy of an electronically signed prescription for Schedule III through V drugs is unacceptable.

Under current federal law, electronic prescription of any controlled substance is not permitted. Until federal law changes, no electronic prescriptions of controlled substances are allowed. The Board rules are being revised to reflect this.

The revised section of the statute is available from our Web site at www.vtprofessionals.org. Click on Legislative Amendments, 2008 – Effective July 1, 2008.