Under what condition is a faxed Schedule II prescription permitted from a prescriber to a pharmacy?

A faxed Schedule II prescription is permitted under specific conditions outlined by federal regulations, one of which includes the scenario where the patient is a resident of a Long-Term Care Facility (LTCF). This is primarily due to the unique needs of residents in LTCFs, who often have chronic conditions requiring ongoing medication management. Faxing a prescription in this situation allows for timely medication access while still adhering to regulations intended to minimize diversion and abuse of controlled substances.

In LTCFs, treating physicians can fax prescriptions directly to pharmacies to expedite the dispensing of medications that are critical for patient care. This flexibility aims to enhance healthcare delivery within these facilities while maintaining safeguards around controlled substances.

The other scenarios involve patient types or circumstances that do not specifically meet the regulatory criteria for allowing faxed prescriptions for Schedule II drugs. For example, visiting a hospital or being a first-time visitor does not inherently qualify under the regulations that govern controlled substance prescriptions. Hence, the provision for faxing is specifically tailored to the LTCF context to ensure that residents receive their necessary medications promptly.