NY Legislators Approve To Postpone Deadline For Electronic Prescriptions

ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) - New York legislators have voted to postpone until next year the deadline for doctors to issue only electronic drug prescriptions, saying many still lack the required federal approval to do that for painkillers and other addictive drugs on the government list of controlled substances.

A spokesman says Gov. Andrew Cuomo will review it.

The electronic prescriptions, connected to a central database that doctors and pharmacists can check, are intended to prevent prescription fraud and doctor-shopping for addictive painkillers and illicit re-sales.

The mandate to prescribe electronically is scheduled to take effect March 27. Many doctors already do it.

However, some computer system vendors used by physicians have not yet received federal certifications for controlled substances.

The Medical Society says questions also remain about reaching nursing home patients.

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