657—8.19 (124,126,155A) Manner of issuance of a prescription drug or medication order. A prescription drug order or medication order may be transmitted from a prescriber to a pharmacy in written form, orally including telephone voice communication, or by electronic transmission in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and rules. Any prescription drug order or medication order provided to a patient in written or printed form shall include the original, handwritten signature of the prescriber except as provided in rule 657—21.7(124,155A).
	 8.19(1) Verification. The pharmacist shall exercise professional judgment regarding the accuracy, validity, and authenticity of any prescription drug order or medication order consistent with federal and state laws and rules. In exercising professional judgment, the prescribing practitioner and the pharmacist shall take adequate measures to guard against the diversion of prescription drugs and controlled substances through prescription forgeries.
	 8.19(2) Transmitting agent. The prescribing practitioner may authorize an agent to transmit to the pharmacy a prescription drug order or medication order orally or by electronic transmission provided that the name of the transmitting agent is included in the order.
	 8.19(3) Receiving agent. Regardless of the means of transmission to a pharmacy, only a pharmacist, a pharmacist-intern, or a pharmacy technician shall be authorized to receive a prescription drug or medication order from a practitioner or the practitioner’s agent.
	 8.19(4) Legitimate purpose. The pharmacist shall ensure that the prescription drug or medication order, regardless of the means of transmission, has been issued for a legitimate medical purpose by an authorized practitioner acting in the usual course of the practitioner’s professional practice. A pharmacist shall not dispense a prescription drug if the pharmacist knows or should have known that the prescription was issued solely on the basis of an Internet-based questionnaire, an Internet-based consultation, or a telephonic consultation and without a valid preexisting patient-practitioner relationship.
	 8.19(5) Refills. A prescription for a prescription drug or device that is not a controlled substance may authorize no more than 12 refills within 18 months following the date on which the prescription is issued. A refill is one or more dispensings of a prescription drug or device that results in the patient’s receipt of the quantity authorized by the prescriber for a single fill as indicated on the prescription drug order.