Under what conditions can a Schedule II prescription be faxed?

A Schedule II prescription can be faxed under specific conditions, primarily to facilitate patient care while maintaining necessary controls over highly regulated substances. The correct context is that faxing prescriptions is permissible for certain unique situations, such as when the prescription is intended for compounding or for patients in hospice care.

When it comes to compounding, a faxed prescription can streamline the process, allowing pharmacists to prepare the required medication without the patient or caregiver physically delivering a paper prescription. Similarly, for hospice patients, the ability to fax a prescription ensures timely access to necessary medications for patients who are in critical need of pain management and symptom relief.

Although there may be provisions for faxing to facilitate other specific needs, such as emergency supplies, these do not generally apply to the routine practice for all situations. By allowing these exceptions, regulations maintain the balance between accessibility to necessary medications and control over substances that have a higher potential for abuse.