New York will require physicians to electronically send prescriptions to pharmacies, according to CBS News.
Here are five takeaways:
1. If physicians fail to follow the new law, they will face fines, license loss or possibly jail time.
2. The new bill is intended to reduce painkiller abuse. Digital prescribing limits forgery and theft.
3. In addition, pharmacists don't have to struggle reading messy handwriting, which may result in dangerous errors.
4. However, physicians opposing the bill argue digital scripts are not the best format for all patients.
5. Some patients may accidentally send their prescriptions to the wrong pharmacy, and then have to ask the physician to re-prescribe it elsewhere.
