HB 18-1279

HB 18-1279 is a Colorado law that requires doctors, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare providers to use electronic systems for prescribing certain types of controlled medications (like painkillers) starting in July 2021. Dentists and those working in rural areas or solo practices have until July 2022 to comply with this rule. The law aims to reduce prescription drug abuse by making it harder for people to misuse these prescriptions. Since the bill has been signed, it is now an active law that healthcare providers must follow starting from the specified dates.

Official Summary

The bill requires podiatrists, physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, and optometrists, starting July 1, 2021, and dentists and practitioners serving rural communities or in a solo practice, starting July 1, 2022, to prescribe schedule II, III, or IV controlled substances only via a prescription that is electronically transmitted to a pharmacy unless a specified exception applies. Prescribers are required to indicate on license renewal questionnaires whether they have complied with the electronic prescribing requirement. Pharmacists need not verify the applicability of an exception to electronic prescribing when they receive an order for a controlled substance in writing, orally, or via facsimile transmission and may fill the order if otherwise valid under the law. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

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