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 March 20, 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:
(6) The pharmacist or pharmacy intern or extern acting under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist shall exercise professional judgment regarding the accuracy and authenticity of the transmitted prescription drug order consistent with Federal and State Laws and rules and regulations adopted pursuant to same.
(7) A prescription drug order electronically transmitted from a prescriber or a prescriber's agent acting under the direct supervision of the prescriber, shall be considered a highly confidential transaction, and said transmission shall not be compromised by interventions, control, change, altering, or manipulation by any other person or party in any manner whatsoever except by an intervening electronic formatter as permitted by law and these rules.
(8) Any pharmacist or pharmacy intern or extern acting under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist that transmits, receives, or maintains any prescription or prescription refill either orally, in writing, or electronically shall ensure the security, integrity, and confidentiality of the prescription drug order and any information contained therein.
(9) The Board may provide exceptions to this Rule by establishing policies for institutional settings such as hospital pharmacies, nursing home pharmacies, outpatient clinic pharmacies, opioid treatment program clinic pharmacies, or pharmacies owned and operated directly by health maintenance organizations.
(10) Receiving computers or other similar electronic devices used to view the prescription shall be located within the pharmacy or pharmacy department with only authorized personnel having access.
(11) Transmission of prescriptions to answering machines and electronic voice recording devices by an authorized practitioner or approved agent shall be retrieved by a licensed pharmacist, intern, or extern and is considered to be a direct transmission of a prescription order.
O.C.G.A. §§ 16-13-41, 16-13-72, 26-4-5, 26-4-27, 26-4-28, 26-4-37, 26-4-40, 26-4-78, 26-4-80, 26-4-82, 26-4-83, 43-34-26.1.