N.H. Rev. Stat. § 318:47-c — NH Code / Title XXX / Chapter 318 / Section 47-c
318:47-c Prescriptions.
Status: in_force

I. (a) A prescription may be written, oral, or electronically transmitted. All oral prescriptions shall be immediately reduced to writing by the pharmacist, authorized technician, or licensed advanced pharmacy technician receiving the oral prescription and shall indicate at least the name of the patient; the name, strength, and quantity of the drug prescribed; any directions specified by the prescriber; the name of the practitioner prescribing the medication; the date the prescription was ordered; a statement that the prescription was presented orally; and the name of the pharmacist who took the oral order. The pharmacist who dispensed an original prescription shall indicate on the face of the prescription at least the assigned prescription identification number; the date of dispensing; the quantity actually dispensed; and his or her name or unique identifiers. The prescription shall be filed numerically by the assigned identification number for a period not less than 4 years. Such prescription files shall be open to inspection by the pharmacist board and its agents. (b) A patient shall be entitled to receive a paper prescription instead of an oral or electronically transmitted prescription, except prescriptions for controlled drugs as defined in RSA 318-B:1, VI. II. (a) A prescription that is electronically generated by a licensed prescriber, transmitted and received at the pharmacy by computer systems shall contain at least the name of the patient, the name, strength, and quantity of the drug prescribed, any directions specified by the prescriber, the name of the practitioner prescribing the medication, and shall be dated and signed using an electronic signature by the prescribing practitioner on the day issued. Such electronic signature shall be made in accordance with RSA 294-E. (b) Electronic prescribing shall not interfere with a patient's freedom to choose a pharmacy. (c) Electronic prescribing software shall not use any means or permit any other person to use any means, including, but not limited to, advertising, instant messaging, and pop-up ads, to influence or attempt to influence, through economic incentives or otherwise, the prescribing decision of a prescribing practitioner at the point of care. Such means shall not be triggered by or in specific response to the input, selection, or act of a prescribing practitioner or his or her agent in prescribing a certain pharmaceutical or directing a patient to a certain pharmacy. (d) Electronic prescribing software may show information regarding a payor's formulary, co-payment, or benefit plan as long as nothing is designed to preclude or make more difficult the act of a prescribing practitioner or patient selecting any particular pharmacy or pharmaceutical. (e) No person who has access to electronic prescription information solely by transmitting or facilitating the transmission of prescriptions between the licensed prescriber generating the prescription and the pharmacy receiving the prescription, or any intermediary, shall retain the prescription or any information it contains for longer than is mandated by federal or state law, after which time the prescription information shall be destroyed. No such person shall sell, use, or otherwise make available the prescription information for any purpose other than transmission of prescriptions, prescription refills, and clinical information displayed to the prescriber or pharmacist. III. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no person shall issue a prescription for a controlled drug unless the prescription is made by electronic prescription from the person issuing the prescription to a pharmacy and the electronic prescription contains the information and signature required in paragraph II, except for prescriptions issued: (1) In circumstances where electronic prescribing is not available due to temporary technological or electrical failure. (2) By a practitioner to be dispensed by a pharmacy located outside of New Hampshire, provided that such pharmacy complies with the laws and regulations of the state where the pharmacy is located. (3) When the prescriber is the dispenser. (4) By a practitioner for a drug that the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires the prescription to contain certain elements that are not able to be accomplished with electronic prescribing. (5) By practitioners who have received a waiver or a renewal thereof for a specified period determined by the practitioner's licensing board, not to exceed one year, from the requirement to use electronic prescribing, pursuant to a process established in rules of the board, due to economic hardship, technological limitations that are not reasonably within the control of the practitioner, or other exceptional circumstance demonstrated by the practitioner. (6) In circumstances where electronic prescribing is not available due to RSA 318-B:2, VI-a. (7) For a compounded prescription for a hospice patient or in circumstances where access to electronic prescribing technology is temporarily unavailable to electronically prescribe a controlled drug for a hospice patient. (8) By a veterinarian, until such time that the New Hampshire board of veterinary medicine determines that electronic prescribing software is widely available for veterinarians and notifies the pharmacy board. The board of veterinary medicine shall at least annually make such a determination. (b) A pharmacist who receives a written, oral, or faxed prescription shall not be required to verify that the prescription properly falls under one of the exceptions under subparagraph (a). Pharmacists may continue to dispense medications from otherwise valid written, oral, or faxed prescriptions that are consistent with this section.