Section 657.21.9. Facsimile transmission (fax) of a prescription.

A pharmacist may dispense noncontrolled and controlled drugs, excluding Schedule II controlled substances, pursuant to a prescription faxed to the pharmacy by the prescribing practitioner or the practitioner’s agent. A pharmacist may dispense a Schedule II controlled substance to fill an emergency prescription authorization pursuant to the requirements of rule 657—10.22(124). The means of transmission via facsimile shall ensure that prescription information is not obscured or rendered illegible due to security features of the paper utilized by the prescriber to prepare a written prescription. The faxed prescription drug order shall serve as the original prescription, shall be maintained for a minimum of two years from the date of last fill or refill, and shall contain all information required by Iowa Code section 155A.27, including the prescriber’s signature or electronic signature. The faxed prescription drug order, if transmitted by the practitioner’s agent, shall identify the transmitting agent by first and last names and title and shall include the prescriber’s signature or electronic signature. A prescription for a controlled substance shall include the prescriber’s manual signature. If the controlled substance prescription is not manually signed by the prescriber, the pharmacist shall orally verify the authenticity and the content of the prescription by contacting the prescriber or the prescriber’s agent via telephone. The receiving pharmacist shall be responsible for verifying the authenticity of an electronically transmitted prescription or of an electronic signature as provided by rule 657—8.19(124,126,155A) or 657—21.3(124,155A). This rule shall not apply to a prescription drug order transmitted pursuant to 657—paragraph 8.15(1)“d.”

[ARC 7636B, IAB 3/11/09, effective 4/15/09; ARC 8171B, IAB 9/23/09, effective 10/28/09; ARC 9912B, IAB 12/14/11, effective 1/18/12]