(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), by no later than December 31, 2011, all duly licensed physicians within the Virgin Islands must electronically transmit all patient prescriptions to pharmacists. Such electronic prescription transmissions must, at a minimum, be in compliance with the final standards promulgated by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services pursuant to the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-173) for patient covered part D drugs prescribed for Medicare beneficiaries, regardless of whether the patient is a Medicare beneficiary.
(b) The transmittal of electronic prescriptions for controlled substances, as defined in section 593(7) of this title, to any pharmacy is prohibited, and no person, including a licensed physician, may transmit an electronic prescription for any controlled substance to any pharmacy.
(c) The Commissioner is directed to ensure that the Virgin Islands complies with subsections (a) and (b) of this section.