Section 1330.760  Electronic Transmission of Prescriptions

Electronic transmission of prescriptions shall be allowed, provided the following conditions are met:

a)         The prescription shall be transmitted directly, or through an intermediary, from the authorized licensed prescriber to the pharmacy of the patient's choice.  No intermediary shall alter the prescription information or content of the prescription. 

b)         The prescriptions shall comply with all applicable statutes and rules regarding the form, content, record keeping and processing of a prescription drug.

c)         The electronically transmitted prescription shall include the following:

1)         The transmitting prescriber's facsimile number, if applicable;

2)         The time and date of the transmission;

3)         The identity of the person sending the prescription;

4)         The address and contact information of the person transmitting the prescription.

d)         The electronic device in the pharmacy that receives the electronically transmitted prescription shall be located within the pharmacy area.

e)         The pharmacy has procedures in place for the cancellation of electronically transmitted prescriptions including the following:

1)         A pharmacy using the National Council for Prescription Drug Program’s SCRIPT standard for receiving electronic prescriptions must enable, activate, and maintain the ability to receive transmissions of electronic prescription cancellations and to transmit cancellation response transactions.

2)         As soon as possible after the receipt of a prescription cancellation notification, no later than two business days after receipt of the notification, pharmacy staff must either review the cancellation transaction to ensure that the prescription has been deactivated or ensure that deactivation occurred automatically.

3)         Policies and procedures to ensure that the discontinued medications are not dispensed to a patient by a pharmacist.

f)         A facsimile of an electronically transmitted prescription shall be non-fading and remain legible. 

g)         The facsimile of the electronically transmitted prescription shall be stored in the pharmacy as required by State and federal laws or rules and may serve as the record of the prescription.

h)         The electronically transmitted prescription shall serve as the record of the prescription so long as the electronically submitted prescription can be stored and is readily retrievable so as to comply with federal and State record keeping requirements. 

i)          To maintain confidentiality, adequate security and systems safeguards designed to prevent and detect unauthorized access, modification or manipulation of electronically transmitted prescriptions is required.

j)          A pharmacy or pharmacist shall not enter into an agreement with a practitioner or healthcare facility concerning the provision of any means for the electronic transmission of prescriptions that would adversely affect a patient's freedom to select the pharmacy or pharmacy department of the patient's choice.

k)         Electronically transmitted prescriptions for controlled substances may be dispensed only as provided by federal law.

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 8352, effective June 2, 2023)