Complete Story
07/12/2019
In case you didn't know: Pharmacists can dispense multiple simultaneous Rx refills without calling the prescriber
In 2017, there was a change in the Ohio Revised Code that authorizes a pharmacist who is filling or refilling a prescription that has one or more refills to dispense the drug in a quantity or amount that varies from the quantity or amount that would otherwise be dispensed. This authority is contingent on meeting conditions specified in the law and can be overridden by physicians stating on the Rx specified that the quantity or amount to be dispensed may not vary from the quantity or amount specified in the prescription.
Section 4729.40 of the Ohio Revised Code authorizes a pharmacist who is filling or refilling a prescription that has one or more refills to dispense the drug in a quantity or amount that varies from the quantity or amount that would otherwise be dispensed. This authority is contingent on meeting conditions specified in the law, including conditions concerning the quantity or amount that may be dispensed and the type of drug prescribed.
The prescriber may include limiting language on the prescription, such as "dispense as written," or otherwise specify that the quantity or amount to be dispensed may not vary from the quantity or amount specified in the prescription.
For questions regarding this law, please review the following frequently asked questions. Other questions not addressed here may be emailed to the Board by visiting: http://www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/contact.aspx
The OPPA is interested in hearing from its members on this law and how frequently this may be taking place across the state. Simply post your comment below or email oppa@ohiopsychiatry.org
1 Comment
Bill Resch on Friday 07/12/2019 at 09:23 PM
Fortunately, and at least in my practice area of central Ohio I still have pharmacists regularly reaching out to me/my office requesting permission for a '30 to 90 day' fill despite this law in effect since 2017. I am not aware of any 30 day scripts I have written turning into 90 days scripts by the pharmacist without my permission... but I suppose it is possible that I would not necessarily always find out if they were. It is a very good reminder that we/I can simply put a notation on the script to DAW... which per EPIC e-prescribing protocol would be best placed in the "Notes to Pharmacy" section. It would take a mere second or I could also create a simple dot phrase to throw in on certain Rx's (like TCA's or lithium) that I did not want to be effected. Thanks again for the heads up/reminder!
