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A Thing of the Past - But Be Sure to Retain Your Records |
Thanks to an Illinois State Medical Society bill passed by the legislature and recently signed into law by Governor Ryan, burdensome triplicate prescription forms are a thing of the past. The Illinois law requires prescribing physicians to fill out a regular prescription single-paper form that their patients give to the dispensing pharmacists. The pharmacist, in turn, electronically transmits the data to the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS), to compile and distribute. Physicians must still follow all the guidelines in federal and state controlled substance acts.
However, it is recommended that you retain your records for ten years for adults, 22 years for minors and forever for the medically incompetent. In addition, the DHS encourages physicians to continue to enter the numeric and written quantity of the controlled substance on prescriptions. You may use computer generated prescriptions, but they must have your original signature.