Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 480 - RULES OF GEORGIA STATE BOARD OF PHARMACY › Chapter 480-27 - REQUIREMENTS OF A PRESCRIPTION DRUG ORDER WHEN UTILIZING A COMPUTER OR OTHER ELECTRONIC MEANS › Rule 480-27-.04 - Use of Facsimile Machine to Transmit or Receive Prescription Drug Order

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
(1)
			 All prescription drug orders sent via facsimile or other electronic means must
			 meet the requirements of O.C.G.A. §
								26-4-80 and  Chapter 480-22 of the
			 Board Rules and the requirements for electronically transmitted prescriptions
			 or drug orders.
(2) All persons
			 engaged in the practice of pharmacy in this state, which includes accepting or
			 receiving a prescription drug order, must be licensed by the Board.
(3) All dangerous drugs and controlled
			 substances must be dispensed pursuant only to a valid prescription drug order.
			 A pharmacist shall not dispense a prescription drug order which the pharmacist
			 knows or should know is not a valid prescription drug order.
(4) A prescription drug order may be accepted
			 by a licensed pharmacist, a pharmacy intern or extern, acting under the direct
			 supervision of a registered pharmacist, in written form, orally, via facsimile,
			 or electronically as set forth in O.C.G.A. §
								26-4-80 and  the Rules of the
			 Board. Provisions for accepting a prescription drug order for a schedule II
			 controlled substance are set forth in Chapter 480-22.
(5) Prescription drug orders transmitted
			 either electronically or via facsimile shall include the following
			 requirements:
(a) Electronically transmitted
			 prescription drug orders shall be transmitted directly by the prescribing
			 practitioner or indirectly utilizing intervening electronic formatters as
			 permitted under Georgia law, except in the case of a prescription drug order
			 sent via facsimile equipment by the practitioner or the practitioner's agent
			 acting under the direct supervision of the practitioner, to the pharmacy of the
			 patient's choice with no other intervening person or intermediary having access
			 to or retaining information contained in the prescription drug order. No
			 patient or agent for a patient may transmit a prescription drug order to a
			 pharmacy.
(b) Prescription drug
			 orders transmitted or received by facsimile or other electronic means shall
			 include:
1. In the case of a prescription drug
			 order for a dangerous drug, the complete name, address and telephone number of
			 the prescribing practitioner;
2. In
			 the case of a prescription drug order for a controlled substance when
			 authorized by federal law, the complete name, address, telephone number, and
			 DEA registration number of the prescribing practitioner;
3. The complete name and address of the
			 patient;
4. The time and date of
			 transmission;
5. The complete name
			 of the person transmitting the prescription drug order and a telephone number
			 for verbal confirmation; and
6. The
			 practitioner's signature in the manner required in
			  480-27-.02(2).
(c) An electronically transmitted
			 prescription drug order which meets the requirements of this Chapter shall be
			 deemed sufficient to serve as the original prescription drug order for the
			 pharmacy.
(d) Electronically
			 generated prescriptions may be transmitted directly or indirectly thru one or
			 more Intervening Electronic Formatters to a pharmacy's computer or other
			 similar electronic device.
(e)
			 Intervening electronic formatters not compliant with the requirements of this
			 chapter will be considered an invalid source and are prohibited.
(f) Electronically generated prescriptions as
			 e-mails directly from the prescriber to a pharmacy of the patient's choice
			 shall be encrypted and accompanied by a digital ID for authentication purposes.
			 The pharmacist shall exercise professional judgment regarding the accuracy and
			 authenticity of prescriptions consistent with federal and state statutes and
			 regulations. In the absence of unusual circumstances requiring further inquiry,
			 the pharmacy and each of its associated pharmacists is entitled to rely on the
			 accuracy and authenticity of electronically transmitted prescriptions. E-mail
			 prescriptions should comply with the following:
1. E-mails shall be reduced to hard copy and
			 maintained as a prescription order record and maintained as required by rules
			 and statute for all other prescription orders; and
2. The prescription may not be for a
			 controlled substance unless allowed by federal law.