(1) A practitioner may submit an attestation to the department for a waiver from the electronic prescribing mandate in RCW 69.50.312, if the practitioner is experiencing an economic hardship, technological limitations not reasonably in the control of the practitioner, or other exceptional circumstance. A practitioner does not need to submit a waiver if exempted from the mandate under RCW 69.50.312 (2)(a) through (j). A practitioner must submit an attestation for the waiver using forms provided by the department. The department shall deem the waiver granted upon submission of an attestation and the practitioner will be deemed exempt under RCW 69.50.312 (2)(k).

(2) A practitioner who has submitted an attestation for a waiver from the mandate in RCW 69.50.312 is exempt from the electronic prescribing mandate for the calendar year in which the attestation is signed, beginning with the effective date of this section.

(a) For economic hardship and technological limitations, a practitioner may attest to the need for a waiver up to three times, giving the practitioner three years to come into compliance with the mandate.

(b) There is no limit on the number of other exceptional circumstance waivers under subsection (3)(c) of this section that a practitioner can submit.

(3) A practitioner required to electronically prescribe under RCW 69.50.312 may submit an attestation for a waiver from this mandate due to:

(a) Economic hardship in the following circumstances:

(i) A bankruptcy in the previous year or submitted an attestation for a waiver under this chapter due to a bankruptcy in the previous year;

(ii) Opening a new practice after January 1, 2020;

(iii) Intent to discontinue operating in Washington prior to December 31, 2022; or

(iv) Operating a low-income clinic, that is defined as a clinic serving a minimum of 30 percent medicaid patients.

(b) Technological limitations outside the control of the practitioner if the practitioner is in the process of transitioning to an electronic prescription system.

(c) Other exceptional circumstances include:

(i) The practitioner is providing services at a free clinic;

(ii) The practitioner generates fewer than 100 prescriptions of Schedules II through V drugs in a one-year period, including both new and refill prescriptions;

(iii) The practitioner is located in an area without sufficient internet access to comply with the e-prescribing mandate; or

(iv) Unforeseen circumstances that stress the practitioner or health care system in such a way that compliance is not possible. Examples may include, but are not limited to, natural disasters, widespread health care emergencies, unforeseeable barriers to electronic prescribing, or unforeseen events that result in a statewide emergency.

(4) The department may audit waiver attestations submitted by a practitioner to determine compliance with this chapter. Knowingly submitting a false attestation is grounds for disciplinary action against a practitioner's license by the appropriate disciplinary authority as well as fines pursuant to RCW 69.50.312(5).