HANDWRITTEN PRESCRIPTIONS: 

REQUIRE TO BE LEGIBLE

House Bill 5549

Sponsor:  Rep. Edward Gaffney

Committee:  Health Policy

Complete to 5-17-04

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5549 AS INTRODUCED 2-17-04

The bill would amend the Public Health Code to require a handwritten prescription to be legibly printed in a type that is at least 10 point, written in ink or an indelible pencil, and signed by the prescriber.  If not prohibited by federal law, a prescriber could transmit a handwritten prescription by facsmile or any other electronic transmission.  A handwritten prescription could also be electronically transmitted directly to a pharmacy of the patient’s choice or his or her authorized agent; however, the data could not be altered, modified, or extracted in the transmission process.

MCL 333.7333

FISCAL IMPACT:

Establishing requirements for handwritten prescriptions will not have any fiscal impact on the state or local units of government.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Susan Stutzky

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Margaret Alston

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.