A California law set to go into effect Jan. 1 allows some California prescribers to be exempt from having to electronically prescribe all medications, which is the current standard.
Here are six things to know about the new law:
1. To become exempt, prescribers must first register with the California State Board of Pharmacy and meet at least one of the specified criteria.
2. One exemption is for dentists and other healthcare practitioners who issue 100 or fewer prescriptions per calendar year.
3. A second exemption applies to practices in the area of an emergency disaster, which is determined by the federal, state or local government.
4. A third exemption applies to offices unable to utilize electronic data transmission prescription software because of circumstances beyond their control.
5. The California Dental Association advises dentists to determine whether they issue fewer 100 prescriptions per year before registering with the board.
6. The pharmacy board is responsible for creating registration, but it does not expect to have it ready by the time the law takes effect.