Substitute Senate Bill 5380 from 2019 legislation mandates all controlled substances be electronically prescribed beginning January 1, 2021.

The law directs the Department of Health to develop a waiver process practitioners may use to apply if they have an economic hardship, technological limitation, or other exceptional circumstance that prevents them from complying with the mandate. The Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission has filed the CR 101 to notify stakeholders of its intention to pursue rules creating a new section establishing criteria to apply for a waiver to the electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) mandate as required by Section 16 in SSB 5380.

Based on the feedback we received from several stakeholder groups, we have decided to consider an attestation-based approach. We are working on draft rule language to reflect that and will discuss this new path at our next stakeholder meeting.
To receive updates regarding this rule-making process, as well as additional stakeholder meetings, please subscribe by selecting the E-Prescribing Waiver Work Group.

If you have questions please contact Cori Tarzwell, HSQA policy analyst, Cori.Tarzwell@DOH.WA.GOV.