When can a prescription for a CII drug be faxed?

A prescription for a CII drug can only be faxed under specific conditions, one of which is for informational purposes. This means that a pharmacist may receive a faxed prescription from a prescriber that can serve as a record, but it does not constitute a valid prescription until the original is presented.

In certain situations, federal regulations allow for faxing a prescription for a CII drug when it is a part of the original order being written or if the patient is in a hospice care program, which must be documented by the prescriber. However, the correct answer centers on the faxing being used as an informational tool rather than a substitute for the original prescription.

For instance, if a prescriber refaxes a prescription to confirm what has already been communicated verbally, that use aligns with the notion of providing information. Other contexts, such as emergency refills or patient requests, do not validate the faxing of a CII prescription based on current regulations.