ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                             Ch. 503

[(c)] (D) Each day on which a violation occurs is a separate violation under
this section.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That:

(a)     The Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene, in conjunction with the
Maryland Health Care Commission, the Board of Physicians, and the Board of
Pharmacy, shall convene a workgroup of authorized prescribers, including physicians,
dentists, podiatrists, and nurses; pharmacists; hospitals; long-term care facilities;
and local health departments to study the issue of legibility of prescriptions and make
recommendations for any statutory or regulatory changes needed to improve
prescription legibility in order to enhance patient safety.

(b)     The study shall include:

(1)     The appropriate content and format of a prescription;

(2)     The best means to inform and educate prescribers if changes in
prescription format or content are enacted;

(3)     The appropriate time frame and procedures for implementation of
any changes enacted;

(4)     Mechanisms for enforcement of any changes enacted;

(5)     The impact of any changes in the content or format of prescriptions
on oral prescriptions;

(6)     Whether pharmacists should be prohibited by statute from
dispensing illegible prescriptions; and

(7)     The use and cost of computerized physician order entry and the
feasibility of eliminating handwritten prescriptions after a specified date.

(c)      The workgroup shall report its recommendations on or before November 1,
2004, in accordance with § 2-1246 of the State Government Article, to the Senate
Finance Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee and the House
Health and Government Operations Committee.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take
effect October July 1, 2004.

Approved May 26, 2004.

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