York County Medicine Winter 2019 - 37

YO R K C O M E D S O C . O R G

IN THE NEWS:
* Under these circumstances (either lack of an EHR or lack
of internet access), a practitioner is not required to apply for a
hardship exemption and is therefore not required to e-prescribe.
Get DOH's revised Act 96 guidance here: https://www.
health.pa.gov/topics/Documents/Programs/PA_EPCS_FAQ.
pdf.
We thank DOH and the Governor's Administration for
working with PAMED on this issue.

How to Apply for a Hardship Exemption Under
Act 96
For practitioners, pharmacies, or health care facilities that
do not meet one of the exceptions in Act 96 (such as the
exception for those without EHR or internet noted above) but
are unable to comply with the law may petition DOH for a
temporary exemption based upon economic hardship, technical
limitations, or exceptional circumstances.
DOH offers an online hardship exemption form that can be
used when applying for a temporary exemption. View Hardship
Exemption Form: https://expressforms.pa.gov/apps/pa/health/
Act96-of-2018-Temporary-Exemption.

Pharmacy Verification of Paper Prescriptions
Act 96 does not require a pharmacist who receives a written,
oral or faxed prescription to verify that the prescription falls
under one of the statutory exceptions or a hardship exemption.
Therefore, a pharmacist may continue to dispense medications
from an otherwise valid written, oral or faxed prescription that
is consistent with current laws and regulations.
Note, however, that separate from Act 96, pharmacy
regulations do not require a pharmacist to fill a prescription
if the pharmacist knows or has reason to know that it is false,
fraudulent or unlawful, or that it is tendered by a patient served
by a public or private third-party payor who will not reimburse
the pharmacist for that prescription. In addition, a pharmacist
may decline to fill or refill a prescription if, in the pharmacist's
professional judgment exercised in the interest of the safety of
the patient, the pharmacist believes the prescription should not
be filled or refilled.
The pharmacist is required to explain the decision to the
patient, and if deemed necessary, the pharmacist shall attempt
to discuss the decision with the prescriber. Therefore, nothing
in Act 96 or the pharmacy regulations require a pharmacist to
unequivocally honor a prescription, regardless of whether it is
filed electronically or via a prescription pad.

Pennsylvania
Update on
Outbreak of
Lung Injuries
Associated
with Vaping
Last Updated: Oct 7, 2019
One Pennsylvania patient has died from lung injuries associated
with vaping, according to a health advisory issued by the Pa.
Department of Health (DOH) on Oct. 4, 2019.
DOH is urging individuals to stop vaping - particularly
children, teens, young adults, pregnant women, and adults who
are vaping illegally bought products.
As of Oct. 1, there have been 1000 cases of vaping-relating
lung injuries and 18 deaths reported to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC). In Pennsylvania, there have been
9 confirmed and 12 probable cases, and DOH is investigating 63
other cases.

Recommendations for Clinicians
DOH's latest advisory on the state's lung injury outbreak
includes:
* Testing guidance
* Recommendations for treating patients with respiratory
symptoms
* Case reporting to public health authorities
Get the Advisory - https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/
Documents/HAN/2019-PAHAN--460-10-04-ADV-Vaping_
update.pdf .
WINTER 2019 | York County Medicine

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http://www.YORKCOMEDSOC.ORG https://www http://health.pa.gov/topics/Documents/Programs/PA_EPCS_FAQ https://expressforms.pa.gov/apps/pa/health/Act96-of-2018-Temporary-Exemption https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/Documents/HAN/2019-PAHAN--460-10-04-ADV-Vaping_update.pdf

York County Medicine Winter 2019

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