NY switches to paperless prescriptions to fight fraud, abuse (13 images)

Instead of handing patients slips of paper, physicians must electronically send orders directly to pharmacies for everything from antibiotics to cholesterol pills to painkillers, with some exceptions. As of March 27, 2016, it will be mandatory for health care providers to issue electronic prescriptions for controlled and non-controlled substances. The requirement is meant to fight painkiller abuse, reduce errors and expand a practice that doctors and patients often find convenient.

A pharmacist searches for a paper copy of an old prescription at a drug store in New York City on March 21, 2016. As of March 27, it will be mandatory for health care providers in New York state to issue electronic prescriptions for controlled and non-controlled substances. The switch to paperless prescriptions is aimed at cracking down on fraud and abuse. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

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Prescription medications fill the shelves at a pharmacy in New York City on March 21, 2016. As of March 27, it will be mandatory for health care providers in New York state to issue electronic prescriptions for controlled and non-controlled substances. The switch to paperless prescriptions is aimed at cracking down on fraud and abuse. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

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A telephone prescription pad used for prescriptions that are phoned-in by doctors sits on the counter at a pharmacy in New York City on March 21, 2016. As of March 27, it will be mandatory for health care providers in New York state to issue electronic prescriptions for controlled and non-controlled substances. The switch to paperless prescriptions is aimed at cracking down on fraud and abuse. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

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A pharmacist talks on the phone near a basket of prescriptions at a pharmacy in New York City on March 21, 2016. As of March 27, it will be mandatory for health care providers in New York state to issue electronic prescriptions for controlled and non-controlled substances. The switch to paperless prescriptions is aimed at cracking down on fraud and abuse. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

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