Under what circumstances may faxed prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances serve as original prescriptions?

Faxed prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances can serve as original prescriptions under specific circumstances as outlined by federal and state regulations. The correct answer encompasses all the situations mentioned—hospice patients, patients living in long-term care facilities, and home infusion patients—because each group has unique needs for medication management that can justify the use of faxed prescriptions.

For hospice patients, the nature of palliative care often requires timely access to medications, which can be managed more effectively with faxed prescriptions. In long-term care facilities, the frequent need for adjustments in medication regimens can also necessitate the ability to quickly send prescriptions via fax. Home infusion patients often require immediate access to their medications, and faxing can streamline this process for these individuals.

Thus, the regulations allow for flexibility in these cases to ensure that patients have the medications they need in a timely manner, illustrating a balance between regulatory control of Schedule II prescriptions and the practical needs of specific patient populations. This approach fosters appropriate access while maintaining the integrity of controlled substance prescriptions.