Iowa Admin. Code r. 657-21.7 - [Rescinded effective 7/16/2025] Facsimile transmission of a prescription

A pharmacist may dispense noncontrolled and controlled drugs, including Schedule II controlled substances only as provided in this rule, pursuant to a prescription faxed to the pharmacy by the prescribing practitioner or the practitioner's agent. 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 shall serve as the original record, except as provided in subrule 21.7(1), shall be maintained for a minimum of two years from the date of the last activity on the prescription, and shall contain all information required by Iowa Code section 155A.27, including the prescriber's signature. If the prescription is transmitted by an agent of the prescriber, the facsimile transmission shall include the first and last names and title of the agent responsible for the transmission. The pharmacist shall be responsible for verifying the authenticity of the prescription as to the source of the facsimile transmission.

(1) Schedule II controlled substances-emergency situations. A pharmacist may, in an emergency situation as defined in 657-subrule 10.26(1), dispense a Schedule II controlled substance pursuant to a facsimile transmission to the pharmacy of a written, signed prescription from the prescriber or the prescriber's agent pursuant to the requirements of rule 657-10.26 (124). The facsimile shall serve as the temporary written record required by 657-subrule 10.26(2).

(2) Schedule II controlled substances-compounded injectable. A prescription for a Schedule II narcotic substance to be compounded for the direct administration to a patient by parenteral, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, or intraspinal infusion may be transmitted by a prescriber or the prescriber's agent to a pharmacy via facsimile.

(3) Schedule II controlled substances-care facility patients. A prescription for any Schedule II controlled substance for a resident of a care facility, as defined in rule 657-23.2 (155A), may be transmitted by the prescriber or the prescriber's agent to a pharmacy via facsimile. The prescription shall identify that the patient is a resident of a care facility.

(4) Schedule II controlled substances-hospice patients. A prescription for any Schedule II controlled substance for a patient in a hospice program licensed pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 135J or a program certified or paid for by Medicare under Title XVIII may be transmitted via facsimile by the prescriber or the prescriber's agent to the pharmacy. The prescription shall identify that the patient is a hospice patient.

Notes

Iowa Admin. Code r. 657-21.7

ARC 3640C, IAB 2/14/18, effective 3/21/18; ARC 5350C, IAB 12/30/20, effective 2/3/21; ARC 6077C, IAB 12/15/21, effective 1/19/22

ARC 7636B, IAB 3/11/09, effective 4/15/09; ARC 9912B, IAB 12/14/11, effective 1/18/12 Amended by IAB February 14, 2018/Volume XL, Number 17, effective 3/21/2018 Amended by IAB December 15, 2021/Volume XLIV, Number 12, effective 1/19/2022 Rescinded by IAB June 11, 2025/Volume XLVII, Number 25, effective 7/16/2025