Final answer:
A faxed prescription can serve as the hardcopy for a Schedule II (CII) narcotic issued for a patient in a Medicare certified hospice care program, as there is an exemption in DEA regulations for hospice patients to streamline their care.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks whether a faxed prescription can serve as the hardcopy for a Schedule II (CII) narcotic if issued for a patient enrolled in a Medicare certified hospice care program. The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) does have specific regulations concerning the prescribing and handling of controlled substances like opium, heroin, fentanyl, morphine, oxycodone, and other prescription pain relievers, which include Schedule II narcotics.
Under normal circumstances, prescriptions for Schedule II narcotics require a written prescription and do not allow for faxed copies to serve as the original. However, for patients in hospice care, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) does provide an exception. Regulations specify that a prescription for a Schedule II substance may be transmitted by the practitioner or the practitioner's agent to a pharmacy via facsimile and the faxed prescription can serve as the original written prescription for a patient enrolled in a hospice program. This is because the DEA recognizes that such patients are often very ill and require the efficient administration of medication to manage pain and symptoms associated with their terminal condition.
Therefore, the statement is true; a faxed prescription can indeed serve as the hardcopy for a CII narcotic for patients in a Medicare certified hospice care program.