As of today, it is illegal to hand write a prescription in New York State and doctors who continue to do that face a fine. Physicians will be required to work with drug stores to email scripts. It will cut down on inaccuracies but is mainly aimed at the drug fraud that flourishes with paper prescriptions in New York City and elsewhere. The system is being lauded by authorities as easier for the patient because there is no trip to the pharmacy. The actual command system of electronic prescriptions is not clear but presumably patients will not be required to give the doctor the pharmacy email address. It seems likely some form of drug industry clearing house will be required. Still, it seems email prescriptions will eliminate errors at the dispensing counter.
