What is required for a faxed CII from a prescriber?

For a faxed CII prescription, a manual signature from the prescriber is essential as it validates the prescription to meet legal requirements set for controlled substances. The manual signature signifies that the prescriber has directly authorized the treatment, ensuring accountability and compliance with both state and federal regulations. This requirement is in place to prevent misuse and to ensure that the prescription record is authentic and verifiable.

The need for a manual signature helps to establish the legitimacy of the prescription when it is transmitted via fax, as an unsigned document may not hold up under scrutiny during audits or investigations. Additionally, having a manual signature protects the pharmacy and the prescriber by demonstrating compliance with legal standards governing controlled substances.

While electronic signatures and re-writing prescriptions may hold some merit under specific conditions, they do not align with the established requirement for a faxed prescription for a Schedule II controlled substance. Showing the pharmacy's fax number on the faxed document serves an important function for identifying where the prescription is sent but does not address the requirement of having a manual signature from the prescriber for the prescription to be valid.