Virginia Law

A. Unless otherwise prohibited by federal law, prescription orders for Schedules III through VI drugs may be transmitted to pharmacies by facsimile (fax) device upon the following conditions:

1. The prescription shall be faxed only to the pharmacy of the patient's choice.

2. A valid faxed prescription shall contain all required information for a prescription. A written prescription shall include the prescriber's signature.

3. An authorized agent, as defined in § 54.1-3408.01 C of the Code of Virginia, may transmit an oral prescription by facsimile and shall record on the faxed prescription the agent's full name and wording that clearly indicates that the prescription being transmitted is an oral prescription.

4. A faxed prescription shall be valid only if faxed from the prescriber's practice location, except in the following situations:

a. Forwarding a faxed chart order from a long-term care facility or from a hospice, including a home hospice;

b. Faxing an oral prescription by authorized agent under the conditions set forth in subdivision 3 of this subsection; or

c. Forwarding a written prescription by an authorized agent from a long-term care facility, provided the provider pharmacy maintains written procedures for such transactions and provided the original prescription is obtained by the provider pharmacy within seven days of dispensing. The original prescription shall be attached to the faxed copy.

5. The following additional information shall be recorded on the faxed prescription:

a. The date that the prescription was faxed;

b. The printed name, address, phone number, and fax number of the authorized prescriber; and

c. The institution, if applicable, from which the prescription was faxed, including address, phone number, and fax number.

B. Prescription orders for Schedule II drugs may only be faxed for information purposes and may not serve as the original written prescription authorizing dispensing, except for orders to be administered to long-term care facility and home infusion patients in accordance with § 54.1-3408.01 B of the Code of Virginia and except for prescriptions written for a Schedule II narcotic substance for patients residing in a hospice certified by Medicare under Title XVIII or licensed by the state, which may include home hospice. The prescriber shall note on the prescription if the patient is a hospice patient, and the prescription shall meet all requirements for a written prescription, including the prescriber's manual signature.

C. If the faxed prescription is of such quality that the print will fade and not remain legible for the required retention period, the receiving pharmacist shall copy or transcribe the faxed prescription on paper of permanent quality.

D. Authorizations for refills may be faxed by the prescriber to the pharmacy provided the authorization includes patient name, address, drug name and strength, quantity, directions for use, prescriber's name, prescriber's manual signature or agent's name, and date of authorization.