Arizona Opioid E-Prescribing Requirement

The Arizona
Opioid Epidemic Act signed by Governor Ducey in 2018 mandates that prescription
orders for a Schedule II opioid must be transmitted electronically to the
dispensing pharmacy. Examples of Schedule II narcotics include: morphine,
oxycodone, codeine, methadone, and hydrocodone.
Beginning January 1, 2019, each prescription order for a Schedule II opioid in Arizona’s six largest counties (Maricopa, Mohave, Pima, Pinal, Yavapai and Yuma) must be transmitted electronically to the dispensing pharmacy.
Beginning July 1, 2019, these same requirements go into effect in all other Arizona counties (Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Navajo and Santa Cruz).
Providers, patients and families should expect that pharmacies will no longer accept written or printed prescriptions for Schedule II opioids starting January 1.