(225 ILCS 85/20) (from Ch. 111, par. 4140)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)

Sec. 20. Dispensing systems.

(a) Two or more pharmacies may establish and use a common electronic file to maintain required dispensing information.

(b) Pharmacies using such a common electronic file are not required to physically transfer prescriptions or information for dispensing purposes between or among pharmacies participating in the same common prescription file; provided, however any such common file must contain complete and adequate records of such prescription and refill dispensed as stated in Section 18.

(c) The Department may formulate such rules, not inconsistent with law, as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of and to enforce the provisions of this Section within the following exception: The Department shall not impose greater requirements on either common electronic files or a hard copy record system.

(d) Drugs shall in no event be dispensed more frequently or in larger amounts than the prescriber ordered without direct prescriber authorization by way of a new prescription order.

(e) The dispensing by a pharmacist licensed in this State or another state of a prescription contained in a common database shall not constitute a transfer, provided that (1) all pharmacies involved in the transactions pursuant to which the prescription is dispensed and all pharmacists engaging in dispensing functions are properly licensed, permitted, or registered in this State or another jurisdiction, (2) a policy and procedures manual that governs all participating pharmacies and pharmacists is available to the Department upon request and includes the procedure for maintaining appropriate records for regulatory oversight for tracking a prescription during each stage of the filling and dispensing process, and (3) the pharmacists involved in filling and dispensing the prescription and counseling the patient are identified. A pharmacist shall be accountable only for the specific tasks performed.

(f) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit a pharmacist who is exercising his or her professional judgment from dispensing additional quantities of medication up to the total number of dosage units authorized by the prescriber on the original prescription and any refills.

(Source: P.A. 100-497, eff. 9-8-17.)