Prescription Reading

Discuss practitioner’s prescribing authority

Practitioners must prescribe within their scope of practice.

E.g., veterinarians can prescribe animal medication, but a dentist would not.

Discuss AB2789 for Electronic Prescribing

Jan 1, 2022: CA pharmacists have the capability to receive an electronic data transmission prescription on behalf of a patient.

• Applies to almost all prescriptions, not just controlled substances.

Benefits

• Reduce opportunities for diversion of controlled substances

• Eliminating use of paper forms (lost, stolen), timely patient care

Exceptions to AB2789 electronic prescribing

Technology failure, dispensing pharmacy located outside CA, RX issued outside of operation hours of patient’s preferred pharmacy, homelessness, inmate, parolee, youth under department of corrections.

Applications of AB2789 for electronic prescribing

• Pharmacies receiving electronic data transmission prescriptions are required to immediately notify the prescriber if the electronic data transmission fails, is incomplete, or is not appropriately received.

• Pharmacy required to transfer prescription to another pharmacy at request of the patient.

• Pharmacist who receives written, oral or faxed prescription shall not be required to verify that the prescription properly falls under one of the exceptions.

• Pharmacists may continue to dispense medications from legally valid written oral or fax prescriptions pursuant to this division.