Enacts new Article 5G, Electronic Prescriptions, in GS Chapter 90. Enacts new GS 90-113.91 to allow a practitioner authorized to prescribe a controlled substance for medical or pharmaceutical care to electronically transmit a prescription to a pharmacy upon meeting each of the six specified criteria, including having a valid medical or pharmaceutical relationship with the patient, and the practitioner's electronic or digital signature or key code appears on the electronic prescription orders. Enacts new GS 90-113.92 to allow any person authorized to electronically transmit a prescription to a pharmacy under new GS 90-113.91 to use electronic prescribing software or hardware to complete the transmission if the software or hardware meets the specified criteria. Provides that nothing in the statute is to be construed to prohibit a health insurance plan from imposing other general exclusions, limitations, or requirements pertaining to health plan administration, including quantity limits, prior authorization, step edits, e-messaging about pharmacy benefit coverage, and other utilization management tools.

Effective October 1, 2013.