IDFPR Compliance Capsule reiterates pharmacist cannot refuse to fill a valid controlled-substance prescription solely because it is not electronic (EPCS) and pharmacists are not responsible for enforcing prescriber EPCS compliance

In its Fall 2025 Compliance Capsule newsletter, IDFPR highlights 720 ILCS 570/311.6(e), emphasizing that a pharmacist may not refuse to fill a valid controlled-substance prescription solely because it is not prescribed electronically, and that pharmacists are not responsible for enforcing prescriber compliance with electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS) requirements. This guidance is operationally relevant for pharmacies’ dispensing policies, staff training, and refusal-to-fill procedures, especially where workflows have been configured to reject non-electronic controlled-substance prescriptions.