The requirement to electronically prescribe controlled substances went into effect on July 1, 2021, for podiatrists, physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, and optometrists, and on July 1, 2023, for dentists and practitioners serving rural communities or in a solo practice. The bill was passed to reduce fraudulent prescriptions for controlled substances.
In 2019, Governor Jared Polis signed SB19-079 into law. The law requires that physicians, physician assistants, advanced nurse practitioners, dentists, podiatrists, and optometrists must prescribe Schedule II, III or IV controlled substances electronically, with some exceptions.
Exceptions in the law are:
Additionally, the law does not require pharmacists to verify the applicability of an exception to electronic prescribing and, as such, pharmacists may dispense the controlled substance pursuant to an order that is written, oral or transmitted via fax that is valid and lawful.
Prescribing practitioners are required to indicate on license renewal questionnaires whether they have complied with the electronic prescribing requirement.