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Dear Prescribers and Pharmacists:
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) this week provided guidance and temporary exceptions regarding the issuance of oral schedule II controlled substance prescriptions in light of the nationwide public health emergency prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The DEA recognized obstacles the pandemic has created for practitioners in their ability to meet with existing patients and provide written schedule II prescriptions.
However, Colorado prescribers and pharmacists must adhere to the stricter set of two laws between the DEA and Article 18 of the Colorado Uniform Controlled Substance Act of 2013.
To this end, Colorado Law (section 18-18-414(2)(a), C.R.S.) mandates, in summary, the following:
- A pharmacist may dispense no greater than a 72-hour supply of a schedule II controlled substance to a patient in an emergency situation pursuant to a telephonic order from a prescriber.
- The corresponding prescriber must then reduce the order to writing or electronic (electronic prescribing) format and shall deliver the order to the dispensing pharmacy by either electronic (electronic prescribing), facsimile, or mail (or have postmarked for mail delivery) within 72 hours of issuing the emergency telephonic order.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
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