Controlled dangerous substances; exempting certain practitioners from electronic prescription requirement. Effective date.

SB 27 exempts certain healthcare providers from electronic prescription requirements for Schedule II-V controlled substances. It specifically adds an exemption for practitioners working exclusively in federally designated medically underserved areas (MUAs) as defined by the Health Resources and Services Administration. Other exemptions include veterinarians, hospital/nursing facility staff, hospice providers, and practitioners with documented technical issues or short-supply prescriptions (72 hours or less). Practitioners with disciplinary history related to controlled substance prescriptions are barred from claiming these exemptions.