Thanks to ISMS Advocacy, General Assembly Passes Delay for Controlled Substance Prescribing Mandate!

December 2, 2022

Illinois’ General Assembly veto session took place this past week, bringing a victory for Illinois physicians!

An imminent new law, which would have required prescriptions for a controlled substance classified as Schedule II, III, IV or V be sent electronically and accepted by the dispenser in an electronic format – effective Jan. 1, 2023, has been delayed for one year!

Our legislative team had been working hard in Springfield to secure passage of legislation to postpone the mandate. This new timeframe will provide the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and stakeholders, such as ISMS, time to formalize appropriate exemptions to the law.

Regulations for this law had not yet been issued despite the looming enforcement date. Allowing the law to go forth without rules would place an onerous burden on many physicians.

The bill now heads to Governor Pritzker's desk.

Please note: Prescribers will not be required to issue prescriptions electronically if they certify to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation that they will not issue more than 25 prescriptions during a 12-month period. Prescriptions in both oral and written form for controlled substances will be included for determining the limit of 25 prescriptions.

If you have questions, please contact ISMS Senior Vice President of State Legislative Affairs Erin O'Brien by email.