diff --git a/SAMtemplates/functions/main.yaml b/SAMtemplates/functions/main.yaml
index 30f4cdd17..1e2094203 100644
--- a/SAMtemplates/functions/main.yaml
+++ b/SAMtemplates/functions/main.yaml
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ Resources:
       Environment:
         Variables:
           LOG_LEVEL: !Ref LogLevel
-          GET_STATUS_UPDATES: !Ref ToggleGetStatusUpdates
+          EXPECT_STATUS_UPDATES: !Ref ToggleGetStatusUpdates
     Metadata:
       BuildMethod: esbuild
       BuildProperties:
diff --git a/packages/enrichPrescriptions/src/statusUpdates.ts b/packages/enrichPrescriptions/src/statusUpdates.ts
index 5c6df683c..6c73c14e6 100644
--- a/packages/enrichPrescriptions/src/statusUpdates.ts
+++ b/packages/enrichPrescriptions/src/statusUpdates.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ export const TEMPORARILY_UNAVAILABLE_STATUS = "Tracking Temporarily Unavailable"
 export const APPROVED_STATUS = "Prescriber Approved"
 export const CANCELLED_STATUS = "Prescriber Cancelled"
 
-export const expectStatusUpdates = () => process.env.GET_STATUS_UPDATES === "true"
+export const expectStatusUpdates = () => process.env.EXPECT_STATUS_UPDATES === "true"
 
 type MedicationRequestStatus = "completed" | "active"
 
diff --git a/packages/enrichPrescriptions/tests/testHandler.test.ts b/packages/enrichPrescriptions/tests/testHandler.test.ts
index e1d801770..4fa589582 100644
--- a/packages/enrichPrescriptions/tests/testHandler.test.ts
+++ b/packages/enrichPrescriptions/tests/testHandler.test.ts
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import {lambdaHandler} from "../src/enrichPrescriptions"
 describe("Unit tests for handler", function () {
   beforeEach(() => {
     jest.useFakeTimers().setSystemTime(SYSTEM_DATETIME)
-    process.env.GET_STATUS_UPDATES = "true"
+    process.env.EXPECT_STATUS_UPDATES = "true"
   })
 
   it("when event contains a bundle with one prescription, one MedicationRequest and status updates, updates are applied", async () => {
@@ -53,17 +53,26 @@ describe("Unit tests for handler", function () {
     expect(actualResponse).toEqual(expectedResponse)
   })
 
-  it("when no status update data (call to GetStatusUpdates toggled-off), no updates are applied", async () => {
+  it("when no status update data (GetStatusUpdates toggled-off), no updates are applied", async () => {
+    process.env.EXPECT_STATUS_UPDATES = "false"
     const {event, expectedResponse} = noUpdateDataEventAndResponse()
     const actualResponse = await lambdaHandler(event)
 
     expect(actualResponse).toEqual(expectedResponse)
   })
 
-  it("when status update is unsuccessful (call to GetStatusUpdates fails), temporary updates are applied", async () => {
+  it("when status updates are expected but unsuccessful (GetStatusUpdates fails at code level), temporary updates are applied", async () => {
     const {event, expectedResponse} = getStatusUpdatesFailedEventAndResponse()
     const actualResponse = await lambdaHandler(event)
 
     expect(actualResponse).toEqual(expectedResponse)
   })
+
+  it("when status updates are expected but not present (GetStatusUpdates fails at state machine level), temporary updates are applied", async () => {
+    const {event, expectedResponse} = getStatusUpdatesFailedEventAndResponse()
+    delete event.StatusUpdates
+    const actualResponse = await lambdaHandler(event)
+
+    expect(actualResponse).toEqual(expectedResponse)
+  })
 })
diff --git a/packages/enrichPrescriptions/tests/testStatusUpdate.test.ts b/packages/enrichPrescriptions/tests/testStatusUpdate.test.ts
index 5d7b874ea..9a4e150a9 100644
--- a/packages/enrichPrescriptions/tests/testStatusUpdate.test.ts
+++ b/packages/enrichPrescriptions/tests/testStatusUpdate.test.ts
@@ -28,10 +28,12 @@ import {
   ONE_WEEK_IN_MS,
   StatusUpdates,
   TEMPORARILY_UNAVAILABLE_STATUS,
+  UpdatesScenario,
   applyStatusUpdates,
   applyTemporaryStatusUpdates,
   delayWithPharmacyStatus,
-  getStatusDate
+  getStatusDate,
+  getUpdatesScenario
 } from "../src/statusUpdates"
 import {Bundle, MedicationRequest} from "fhir/r4"
 import {Logger} from "@aws-lambda-powertools/logger"
@@ -482,4 +484,17 @@ describe("Unit tests for statusUpdate", function () {
     expect(allMedicationRequests.length).toEqual(6)
     expect(allMedicationRequestsWithTemporaryUpdates.length).toEqual(3)
   })
+
+  it.each([
+    {expectUpdates: true, updatesPresent: true, expected: UpdatesScenario.Present},
+    {expectUpdates: true, updatesPresent: false, expected: UpdatesScenario.ExpectedButAbsent},
+    {expectUpdates: false, updatesPresent: false, expected: UpdatesScenario.NotExpected}
+  ])("getUpdatesScenario returns as expected", async ({expectUpdates, updatesPresent, expected}) => {
+    process.env.EXPECT_STATUS_UPDATES = expectUpdates ? "true" : "false"
+    const statusUpdates = updatesPresent ? {isSuccess: true, prescriptions: [], schemaVersion: 1} : undefined
+
+    const scenario = getUpdatesScenario(statusUpdates)
+
+    expect(scenario).toEqual(expected)
+  })
 })