| Class |
Type |
Facts, Question and Answer |
| CII |
Destruction/
Disposal |
Q: How are outdated CIIs destroyed?
A: See 21 CFR 1307.21and OAR 855-080-0105 (reverse distributor, DEA, Board approved Plan). |
| CII |
Emergency |
Q: Can a Long Term Care Facility call in an emergency 72 hour supply for a CII?
A: Yes, a prescription signed by the prescriber must be mailed OR faxed (CII fax exceptions) within 7 days and MUST have "Authorization for Emergency Dispensing" written across its face. |
| CII |
General |
Q: Can physician assistants and naturopaths prescribe CII medications?
A: Yes, check the naturopaths formulary at http://www.oregon.gov/OBNE/rules/850-060-0226.pdf. PAs may if they hold a current DEA registration for CII medication. |
| CII |
Inventory |
Q: Is a CII perpetual inventory required in all practice settings?
A: No, it has been required in hospitals for a long time (monthly reconciliation). A quarterly reconciliation is required, but not a perpetual inventory. |
| CII |
Inventory |
Q: Does the CII annual inventory have to be separated from the CIII-V inventory?
A: Yes, they can be on the same report as long as listed out separately. |
| CII |
Miscellaneous |
Q: What is required of drug outlets electronically ordering CIIs?
A: The pharmacist must be able to retrieve the electronic DEA 222 from their ordering system for review by Board inspectors. This electronic form must contain the date and quantity of each controlled substance received. |
| CII |
Partial Fills |
Q: In which cases are partial fills on CII prescriptions allowed?
A: Partial fills are allowed on CII prescriptions when: 1)The pharmacist is unable to fill the entire amount and the remaining balance is dispensed within 72 hours. If the remainder is not filled within that timeframe, then the remainder is lost and the prescriber should be notified of the actual quantity filled. 2)For patients that are residing in a long term care facility or community based care facility or diagnosed with a terminal illness in which scripts are good for 60 days from the date the prescription was written. |
| CII |
Partial Fills |
Q: What information must be documented on the original hardcopy each time you partial fill a CII for hospice/terminally ill patients, long term care or community based care patients?
A: The date dispensed, quantity dispensed each time, amount remaining and pharmacist who dispensed it. |
| CII |
Prescriptions |
Q: Can a CII prescription be changed from a capsule to a tablet or liquid form of the same medication?
A: Yes, if you contact the prescriber and they authorize the change. |
| CII |
Prescriptions |
Q: If a CII medication is written with only the first or last name of patient, can a pharmacist call the prescriber to clarify it and then fill the prescription?
A: Yes. |
| CII |
Prescriptions |
Q: What changes can a pharmacist make to a CII prescription after speaking to the prescriber over the phone?
A: A pharmacists CAN change the drug strength, dosage form, drug quantity, and the directions. Changes that cannot be made are the patient's name, controlled substance prescribed, and the addition of a prescriber's signature (the prescription must be hand signed). |
| CII |
Prescriptions |
Q: In which situations can a faxed CII prescription serve as an original prescription?
A: A faxed prescription can serve as an original for patients in a long term care facility , community based care, enrolled in hospice, or receiving home infusion/IV pain management therapy. The fax must be signed by the prescriber. |
| CII |
Prescriptions |
Q: Is it legal to write/fill a CII prescription on the same page as a second prescription?
A: Yes, but the prescriptions must be correctly filed and cross-referenced. The original must be under the highest controlled prescription. |
| CII |
Prescriptions |
Q: If a prescriber writes for a quantity of a CII that is greater than the amount the patient's insurance will pay for, can the prescription be split into two prescriptions, one for insurance and one for cash?
A: Yes. Both prescriptions must be filled and dispensed/sold at the same time. |
| CII |
Prescriptions |
Q: Can a prescriber write multiple prescriptions for a CII on the same day to be filled on different dates?
A: Yes, as long as the total quantity does not exceed a 90 day supply. |
| CII |
Prescriptions |
Q: Can prescribers post date CII prescriptions?
A: No, the prescription must have the date that the prescription is actually written and a fill date can be designated in the instructions to the pharmacist. |
| CII |
Prescriptions |
Q: Does a limit exist on the quantity of CII medication that can be dispensed?
A: No, but use professional judgment. |
| CII |
Returns |
Q: For drug recalls on a CII, can good drug be exchanged for the recalled drug?
A: Yes, it can be exchanged without a new prescription, but you need to document on the hardcopy what was taken back and the quantity replaced. |
| CII |
Transfers |
Q: Can a CII be transferred between pharmacies with interactive databases (i.e.. Walgreen's)?
A: Under no circumstance can a CII be transferred. |
| CII |
Inventory |
Q: How long do we need to keep CII inventory records?
A: 3 years. |
| CIII-V |
Filing |
Q: Do you have to file CIII-V invoices separate from CII invoices?
A: Yes. |
| CIII-V |
Filing |
Q: Is it ok if CIII-V prescriptions are filed with regular legend drugs even if there is no identifier to manually separate them?
A: Yes, as long as the store can run a report of all CIII-Vs dispensed that is separate from the regular legend drugs. |
| CIII-V |
Miscellaneous |
Q: Can a prescriber's agent call in or verbally verify a CIII-V prescription?
A: Yes, they can verbally verify it for the pharmacist or intern. |
| CIII-V |
Miscellaneous |
Q: What schedule are pseudoephedrine, phenylpropanolamine and ephedrine in Oregon? When did they become scheduled?
A: Schedule III as of July 1, 2006. |
| CIII-V |
Partial Fills |
Q: Does a partial fill on a CIII-V medication constitute a refill?
A: Partial fills are allowed on CIII-V medications and do not constitute a refill. The partial dispensing may not exceed the total amount authorized in the prescription order (i.e. Vicodin #90 dispensed as #30 filled 3 times constitutes 1 refill). |
| CIII-V |
Prescriptions |
Q: Can a prescriber's agent sign a refill request or prescription for a CIII-V medication?
A: No. |
| CIII-V |
Quantity |
Q: Does the 6 month limit for refills on schedule III-V medication mean a 6 month quantity limit?
A: No, the prescription is valid for 6 months from the date it is written and can have up to 5 refills. After 6 months the script is no longer valid and any unused refills are void. The rules do not apply to quantity dispensed. (It is legal to dispense a prescribed quantity that exceeds a 6 month supply). |
| CIII-V |
Quantity |
Q: Is there a limit on how much pseudoephedrine or phenylpropanolamine a pharmacist can dispense?
A: No, it is dictated by whatever the prescriber writes for within the DEA limitations for a CIII (i.e. 6 months or 5 refills). |
| CIII-V |
Quantity |
Q: Can a pharmacist ever dispense a year supply of a CIII-V?
A: Yes, it depends on how the prescriber wrote the prescription (i.e. if the prescriber wrote for "#365 1 tab daily", the pharmacy could fill the whole prescription at one time for the full quantity). Use professional judgment and fill in context. |
| CIII-V |
Transfers |
Q: Can CIII-Vs be transferred in between the same chain store via the computer system more than 1 time?
A: Only if they share a real time database where each fill at each location can be seen in real time. This is not considered to be a transferred prescription. |
| CS |
Destruction/
Disposal |
Q: When a prescriber writes a new prescription for a controlled substance but requires the destruction of a previously prescribed controlled substance prior to the new medication being dispensed how does a pharmacist go about fulfilling the prescribers request?
A: A pharmacist cannot accept the return of a controlled substance. A pharmacist can witness the patient destroying the medication (flushing down a toilet) and document that the medication was destroyed prior to the new medication being dispensed. |
| CS |
Destruction/
Disposal |
Q: Does a residential care facility need to report the disposal of controlled substances that were prescribed for residents to the DEA or the Oregon Board of Pharmacy?
A: No. |
| CS |
Destruction/
Disposal |
Q: Who will take back controlled substances for destruction?
A: Reverse distributors. There is a list of them on the Oregon Board of Pharmacy website under Forms- click on "controlled substance destruction firms". |
| CS |
Destruction/
Disposal |
Q: What should a pharmacy do with broken controlled substance tablets?
A: Keep a dual or joint destruction log and document what was destroyed, date of destruction and who witnessed it. |
| CS |
Destruction/
Disposal |
Q: Does the DEA allow the return or destruction of controlled substances?
A: No. See 21 CFR 1307.21. |
| CS |
Filing |
Q: What are the requirements for filing controlled substance prescriptions?
A: See CFR 1304.04. |
| CS |
Inventory |
Q: When a pharmacy has a change in PIC and is required to do a controlled substance inventory can they make it the annual inventory as well?
A: Yes, but the next controlled substance inventory must be within 365 days. |
| CS |
Inventory |
Q: How often does a controlled substance inventory have to be done?
A: Annually (within 365 days). |
| CS |
Inventory |
Q: Can the controlled substance count be corrected on inventory?
A: Yes, if diversion is suspected then the pharmacist should investigate. |
| CS |
Inventory |
Q: What are the most common drugs left off the controlled substance annual inventory in pharmacies?
A: Carisoprodol, Midrin, pseudoephedrine products (esp. Zyrtec-D), phenylpropanolamine products and ephedrine products. |
| CS |
Inventory |
Q: Can someone other than the PIC perform the annual controlled substance inventory? Can it be done without the PIC being present (i.e. on vacation)?
A: Yes to both, but the PIC is responsible for its accuracy. |
| CS |
Licensing |
Q: Do pharmacies applying for a DEA license have to apply for an Oregon controlled substance license first?
A: Yes, they must apply for both a DEA license and an Oregon controlled substance license. The DEA will not release the DEA license until the Oregon Board of Pharmacy has issued the Oregon controlled substance license. |
| CS |
Miscellaneous |
Q: What is required on the DEA 222 form when controlled substances are checked in?
A: The date and quantity of medication received is required to be recorded on each line of the DEA 222 form. |
| CS |
Miscellaneous |
Q: Is ID required for picking up controlled substances from the pharmacy?
A: No, but the pharmacy can choose to require it. |
| CS |
Miscellaneous |
Q: Do colleges/ research facilities that have an FDA research license also have to have a DEA license to possess controlled substances? Do they need a license from the Oregon Board of Pharmacy?
A: Yes, they need a DEA license. The Oregon Board of Pharmacy may waive the requirement for registration with the State of Oregon. |
| CS |
Miscellaneous |
Q: Is there an age requirement to pick up a controlled substance?
A: No. |
| CS |
Prescriptions |
Q: What is required to be on the hardcopy of a controlled substance prescription?
A: A prescriber's name, address, DEA number, and the patient's address must be on the hardcopy of a controlled substance prescription. These may be printed on the dispensing label placed on the back of the prescription. The CII prescriptions must also be hand signed by the prescriber. The pharmacist does not need to cancel the prescription across its face. |
| CS |
Prescriptions |
Q: How long are CII prescriptions good for? CIII-V? Regular legend medications?
A: CII- use professional judgment (no legal expiration date). CIII-V- 6 months or 5 refills whichever is sooner. All regular legend prescriptions- up to 2 years based on how the refills are written. |
| CS |
Transfers |
Q: If a controlled substance prescription was inadvertently transferred to the wrong pharmacy, can it be transferred to the correct pharmacy?
A: Yes. |
| General |
Canada |
Q: Why do Canadian pharmacies sell prescription medications for so much less to US patients? Is it legal to fill Canadian prescriptions in the US? Is it legal to have a US prescription filled by a Canadian pharmacy?
A: Canada has a governing body similar to the US FDA; however, their governing body only requires them to sell "FDA" approved drugs to Canadian patients. This means that Canadian pharmacies can import drugs that are nonstandarized and unapproved from other countries to sell at reduced prices to nonCanadian patients (aka Americans). It is not legal to fill a Canadian prescription in the US. There are no Canadian pharmacies licensed with the Oregon Board of Pharmacy, so they cannot legally ship prescription medications into Oregon. |
| General |
CE |
Q: How many CE hours will you get for attending a Board meeting?
A: 2 hours per day or 1 hour for a half day of law CE. |
| General |
CE |
Q: How many CE hours will you get for attending a PIC class?
A: 2 hours of law CE. |
| General |
CE |
Q: Where can a pharmacist or technician go for free CE?
A: Online at PowerPak or CECity. |
| General |
CE |
Q: How long should I keep my CE certificates?
A: 3 years for pain CE and at least 1 year for regular CE. It is encouraged to keep all CE records for 3 years. |
| General |
Destruction/
Disposal |
Q: How should a hospice nurse dispose of narcotics in the home after a patient passes away?
A: Joint destruction with documentation. Refer to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for eco-appropriate ways. |
| General |
Destruction/
Disposal |
Q: How should medications safely be disposed of?
A: Contact the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) or crush med, put in milk jug, dissolve in water, add clumping agent such as kitty litter and put lid on it to throw it away. Never throw medication away in its original container. |
| General |
Discipline |
Q: If a pharmacy employee is convicted of a drug related felony, is there anything a drug outlet needs for that employee to work for them?
A: The pharmacy employee may work in the pharmacy only if the drug outlet obtains a waiver from the DEA that allows access to controlled substances. |
| General |
Discipline |
Q: Will there be discipline if a notice of noncompliance is received?
A: In most instances there will be. |
| General |
Discipline |
Q: What is the lowest form of discipline that does not give probation or fines, but is reportable to clearinghouses?
A: A reprimand. |
| General |
Emergency |
Q: What quantity of CII medication can be dispensed to get a hospice patient through an emergency period ?
A: Whatever quantity is needed to get the patient through the emergency period, after obtaining an emergency verbal prescription. |
| General |
Filing |
Q: How long does the Oregon Board of Pharmacy require prescription records and other records to be kept?
A: 3 years (unless prescriptions are electronically scanned in and a reproducible image is available, then 120 days for all noncontrolled prescriptions and 3 years for all controlled substance prescriptions). The DEA requires prescription hardcopies of controlled substances to be kept for two years. Pharmacies may want to keep records longer (i.e. 7 years +) for Medicare requirements/audits etc. |
| General |
HIPAA |
Q: Regarding HIPPA, can pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) billing info be e-mailed to someone's home address in order to work on billing from home?
A: Probably not since it wouldn't be secure, however, BOP does not regulate the HIPPA rules. Contact HIPPA at phone: 503-947-5255 or website: www.oregon.gov/DHS/admin/hipaa/index.shtml . |
| General |
HIPAA |
Q: If a prescriber requests a patient's pharmacy records, can a pharmacist provide them and not violate HIPAA?
A: Yes, as long as the request is within the normal course of business, because both the prescriber and the pharmacist are part of the healthcare team caring for the patient. |
| General |
HIPAA |
Q: If the Oregon Board of Pharmacy requests information about a patient or other co-workers, can the pharmacist or technician provide this information and not violate HIPAA?
A: Yes, the Oregon Board of Pharmacy is grouped into a category with other enforcement/ regulatory agencies who are exempt from HIPAA. These privileges are given so that the Oregon Board of Pharmacy can complete investigations. |
| General |
Internet |
Q: How can someone feel reasonably confident that a particular internet pharmacy is legitimate?
A: The website should have a VIPPS (verified internet provider practice site) symbol on it which means that the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy has inspected them and determined that they are a legitimate internet pharmacy provider. |
| General |
Labeling |
Q: Does a unit-of-use product (i.e. inhaler, ointment) require a product identification label?
A: No. |
| General |
Licensing |
Q: When does a correctional facility have to be licensed with the Oregon Board of Pharmacy?
A: If they have non-patient specific stock medications, they must be licensed with the Board. If they are just "storing" patient specific meds, they do not have to be licensed with the Board. |
| General |
Miscellaneous |
Q: Who should a potential counterfeit medication be reported to?
A: The FDA. |
| General |
Miscellaneous |
Q: Who should a severe medication adverse event be reported to?
A: Medwatch. |
| General |
Miscellaneous |
Q: What should someone do if their regular medication looks different (i.e. different color or shape)?
A: Verify that the medication matches the description on the product identification on the label. |
| General |
Miscellaneous |
Q: What does the law say about prescribers writing prescriptions for medications, including controlled drugs, for family members?
A: There are no laws prohibiting prescribers from writing prescriptions for controlled substances for family members unless the prescriber's license prohibits it. The prescriber's licensing board should be notified of excessive use. |
| General |
Miscellaneous |
Q: Can pharmacists order and/or authorize lab tests?
A: Yes. |
| General |
Miscellaneous |
Q: Does a distributor of blood bags need to be licensed by the Oregon Board of Pharmacy?
A: The Oregon Board of Pharmacy does not regulate blood products, even with the anticoagulant in it. |
| General |
Miscellaneous |
Q: What are the restrictions on dispensing Iodine or iodides?
A: There is no restriction on tincture of Iodine or iodides if it is under the allowable 2.2% of elemental iodine. Anything over 2.2% is restricted. |
| General |
Miscellaneous |
Q: What is ISMP?
A: The Institute of Safe Medication Practices which is dedicated to medication error prevention. |
| General |
Miscellaneous |
Q: Can interns that have graduated from pharmacy school and hold a pharmacy degree, but are not yet licensed as pharmacists use the title PharmD?
A: Yes, because PharmD is an academic term, but they cannot be called pharmacists (RPh) or perform the duties of a pharmacist until they have passed all exams, hold a pharmacy degree and are licensed by a Board of Pharmacy. |
| General |
Miscellaneous |
Q: Can non-veterinarians write prescriptions for animals?
A: No, non-veterinarians writing prescriptions for animals is beyond their scope of practice. |
| General |
Miscellaneous |
Q: Since marijuana can be used legally for medical use in Oregon, is it still schedule I?
A: Yes, but the Oregon Board of Pharmacy does not regulate the medical use. That falls under the Department of Health. |
| General |
Miscellaneous |
Q: What is the NABP clearinghouse?
A: The place that the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy uses to check whether or not there are past, current or pending actions on a licensee in all states that they have practiced in (i.e. the Oregon Board of Pharmacy will find out information from the NABP regarding disciplinary action for pharmacists that want to reciprocate from other states). |
| General |
Miscellaneous |
Q: What does it mean to "depot" drugs?
A: A pharmacy can store a prescription from another licensed prescription drug outlet in their pharmacy for a patient to pick up (i.e. usually occurs in remote locations). Prescriptions can also be "depoted" at the prescriber's office or home, or any licensed prescription drug outlet for patient pick up. |
| General |
Miscellaneous |
Q: Is Ultram a controlled substance in OR?
A: No. |
| General |
Miscellaneous |
Q: What is a prescriber's scope of practice?
A: An MD or DO can write prescriptions for anything other than veterinary medications. Other prescribers must prescribe within the limits of their practice (i.e. a dentist could not prescribe an eye drop). |
| General |
Refills |
Q: If a prescriber dies or retires and surrenders their license, are the prescription refills still valid?
A: Since there is no longer a patient/ prescriber relationship the refills become invalid. A refill of one time is acceptable to allow the patient time to find a new care provider. |
| Hospital |
Emergency |
Q: Can emergency rooms dispense more than a 24 hour supply of medication to ER patients? Can they do so at times when the regular hospital pharmacy is open?
A: Yes, enough medication may be dispensed to the ER patient to get them through the emergency period as defined by the facilities policies and procedures. The emergency supply can be dispensed at any time of the day from the emergency room prepacks. |
| Hospital |
Inventory |
Q: How often does a perpetual CII inventory have to be reconciled?
A: Monthly. |
| Hospital |
IVs |
Q: Can IVs be prepared in batches with the use of a log documenting the date prepared, technician preparing, pharmacist checking, drug, amount compounded, expiration date, and the commercial product used?
A: Yes, IV's may be batched, but a pharmacist's initials must be on final IV label for each one. |
| Hospital |
Miscellaneous |
Q: Who can repackage and label from bulk to unit of use?
A: A pharmacist or technician can do so; however, a pharmacist must verify, initial and keep a log for verification purposes if an internal control number is utilized. |
| Hospital |
Miscellaneous |
Q: In rural areas, is it ok for retail pharmacies to supply drug inventory to a local hospital's drug room without the pharmacies having an IP license?
A: Yes, they would sell it to the hospital on invoice and use a DEA 222 form to transfer CIIs. Also, the hospital's drug room pharmacist consultant must be doing QA and monitoring activities. |
| LTC |
Expiration Date |
Q: What is the expiration date for "salad packs"?
A: 60 days from the date they were filled. |
| LTC |
Expiration Date |
Q: What is the expiration date for bubble packs with 1 chemical entity in each bubble?
A: 1 year or the manufacturer's dating if sooner. |
| LTC |
Labeling |
Q: Do product identification label requirements need to be followed for bubble packs and "salad packs"? (855-041-065)
A: Yes. |
| LTC |
Miscellaneous |
Q: Can medications used in a hospice setting be used as house supply if the resident has left or expired?
A: No. |
| LTC |
Miscellaneous |
Q: When do long term care pharmacies have to assist in the establishment and supervision of the policies & procedures for the safe storage, distribution, administration & disposition of drugs, and for professional advice/medication counseling of patients and/or caregivers?
A: If they are: 1) the primary provider for the long term care facility or 2) the contracted pharmacist consultant for the long term care facility or community based care facility or 3) they are accepting medication back for redispensing or 4) they are supplying an emergency drug kit to the long term care or community based care facility, they must comply with these rules.
If they are a secondary provider for a long term care facility, they must confirm that the primary provider or consultant is doing these things for them and their patients or the secondary provider must do this for their own patients. |
| LTC |
Miscellaneous |
Q: When does a long term care pharmacy have to be involved in performing and documenting the quality assurance activities?
A: If they are: 1) the primary provider for the long term care facility or 2) the contracted pharmacist consultant for the long term care facility or community based care facility or 3) they are accepting medication back for redispensing or 4) they are supplying an emergency drug kit to the long term care or community based care facility, they must comply with these rules.
If they are a secondary provider for a long term care facility, they must confirm that the primary provider or consultant is doing these things for them and their patients or the secondary provider must do this for their own patients. |
| LTC |
Returns |
Q: When can bubble packed long term care medications be returned and re-dispensed?
A: When all of the following criteria are met: 1) the drug is in an unopened tamper-evident unit, 2) the drugs or devices have remained at all times in control of a person trained and knowledgeable in the storage and administration of drugs in long term care facilities or supervised living groups using the services of a consultant pharmacist, and 3) the drug or device has not been adulterated or misbranded and has been stored under conditions meeting United States Pharmacopeia standards. |
| LTC |
Returns |
Q: Can medications that are "salad packed" (2 different chemical entities in each bubble) be returned and re-dispensed?
A: No, they can be returned for destruction only, provided that the salad pack contains no controlled substances. |
| LTC |
Returns |
Q: Can controlled substances be returned to the pharmacy?
A: No, they must be destroyed at the site. |
| LTC |
Returns |
Q: Can a retail pharmacy accept the return of controlled substances from a jail or long term care facility?
A: No, controlled substances must be destroyed on site. |
| LTC |
Returns |
Q: If medications are sent out to the long term care facility or community based care home, but never reach the patient, can the medication be returned to the pharmacy and reused?
A: Yes, as long as no more than 1 chemical entity is in each bubble. |
| Retail |
Changes |
Q: Does the pharmacist need to notify the prescriber if a sig is changed due to a substitution of medication strength? (i.e. Zoloft 100mg 1/2 tab daily vs. Zoloft 50mg 1 tab daily)
A: Yes, the prescriber should be alerted of the changes to ensure that the information in the patient's chart is correct. |
| Retail |
Compounding |
Q: When do out of state compounders who ship into Oregon have to be licensed as manufacturers in Oregon?
A: When they compound non-patient specific medications for dispensing. |
| Retail |
Compounding |
Q: When do out of state compounders who ship into Oregon have to be licensed as retail drug outlets in Oregon?
A: When they are compounding medication for specific Oregon patients or for prescribers to administer to patients at their practice site. |
| Retail |
Compounding |
Q: What is a shared service contract?
A: A contract that allows an in-state pharmacy to compound for another in-state pharmacy or prescriber without being licensed as a manufacturer. The pharmacy or prescriber can dispense the compound to their patients or use it for office use. The in-state pharmacy must only do a limited amount of compounding to have this kind of contract. |
| Retail |
Compounding |
Q: When a compounding pharmacy performs a quarterly audit of all bulk CII powders, does the powder need to be weighed out each time?
A: It would be acceptable if the pharmacy initially weighs the active powder and the empty container and then tracks the descending weight of the container for each quarterly audit. |
| Retail |
Compounding |
Q: Can pharmacies compound products for OTC sale under a retail license?
A: No. |
| Retail |
Counseling |
Q: Are pharmacists required to counsel on prescriptions that have been reassigned if there are no changes on them?
A: No, but the pharmacist must use their discretion. |
| Retail |
DUR |
Q: Do DURs have to have a hard halt that requires a pharmacist override to proceed?
A: No, this is preferable, but a system that documents which pharmacist performs each function (i.e. DUR vs. verification) and ensures DURs are performed is acceptable. |
| Retail |
DUR |
Q: Does the pharmacist need to perform a DUR on refills?
A: Yes. |
| Retail |
Emergency |
Q: When can an emergency medication supply be given and what quantity can be given?
A: Up to a 72 hour emergency supply can be given on non-controlled medications that the patient is currently taking, when no refills remain and while awaiting the prescriber's authorization. |
| Retail |
Expiration Date |
Q: What expiration date should be listed on the prescription label?
A: The pharmacist should use their professional judgment. Although 12 months is often the standard of practice, the manufacturer's expiration date or a date less than a year may be used if appropriate. |
| Retail |
Internet |
Q: Can a pharmacist fill a prescription based solely on an internet questionnaire?
A: No, the prescriber and patient must have a valid patient/prescriber relationship which usually includes a physical exam. See 855-019-0210(2). |
| Retail |
Interns |
Q: Can a pharmacist supervise 2 interns at the same time?
A: No, if one functions as a technician and the other as an intern, only the "intern" can receive intern hours. |
| Retail |
Licensing |
Q: If only the final verification of prescriptions are being done in Oregon, does the central fill pharmacy have to be licensed in Oregon?
A: Yes. |
| Retail |
Licensing |
Q: Do out of state pharmacists and technicians have to be licensed in Oregon if they are working for a mail order pharmacy that sends prescriptions to Oregon patients?
A: No, but the PIC must be licensed in Oregon. |
| Retail |
Licensing |
Q: Which out-of-state central fill employees must be licensed in Oregon?
A: Pharmacists and technicians that participate in any function of the dispensing process for Oregon patients must be licensed in Oregon. |
| Retail |
Licensing |
Q: Do out of state pharmacies have to be licensed in Oregon if they fill prescriptions for Oregon patients?
A: Yes. |
| Retail |
Miscellaneous |
Q: How do pharmacies sell prescriptions purchased by the prescriber "for office use?"
A: Prescriptions "for office use" must be sold on invoice. A file should be kept of all invoices separate from wholesaler invoices. CIIs must be transferred by a DEA 222 form initiated by the purchasing practitioner. |
| Retail |
Miscellaneous |
Q: What regulations exist for mailing prescriptions out of state?
A: Check with each state that the pharmacy will be mailing to. |
| Retail |
Miscellaneous |
Q: Can pharmacists fill prescriptions for prescribers from other states, US territories and US military bases?
A: Yes, if they are licensed in their own state, practicing within their scope and have a valid patient/prescriber relationship. |
| Retail |
Miscellaneous |
Q: Who does the pharmacist contact if they feel a prescriber is overprescribing a controlled substance, unsafely prescribing or unethically prescribing?
A: The prescriber's regulatory board (i.e. Board of Nursing, Oregon Medical Board). |
| Retail |
Miscellaneous |
Q: Can a prescriber or group of prescribers have ownership positions in a retail pharmacy?
A: Yes, but they may not have possession of the pharmacy keys. |
| Retail |
Miscellaneous |
Q: Can a pharmacist refuse to fill a prescription?
A: Yes, but pharmacists should use professional judgment including awareness of the position papers that the Board has regarding moral and ethical objections and pain management. The pharmacist cannot be a barrier to access. |
| Retail |
Miscellaneous |
Q: Does a drug have to be AB rated for generic substitution in Oregon?
A: No, it is up to the pharmacist to use their professional judgment. See ORS 689.515 (2). |
| Retail |
Miscellaneous |
Q: Can a fee be charged to a Medication Assistance Programs (MAPs) patient?
A: Yes. |
| Retail |
Miscellaneous |
Q: Do dental hygienists have prescribing authority?
A: Yes, but it is very limited. Under the supervision of a dentist, they may prescribe fluoride, fluoride + varnish, and antimicrobial rinses. |
| Retail |
Prescriptions |
Q: Can a pharmacist fill a hand delivered prescription that has an electronic signature on it?
A: No, hand delivered prescriptions must be manually signed by the prescriber or their agent. |
| Retail |
Prescriptions |
Q: Is it ok for a prescriber's agent to sign a prescription for them?
A: It is okay for them to sign the prescriber's name followed by their name or initials on non-controlled medications only. |
| Retail |
Quantity |
Q: Does Oregon law limit the initial quantity of drug dispensed for a prescription medication?
A: No. |
| Retail |
Refills |
Q: Can a pharmacist combine refills on a prescription to give a greater dispensed quantity?
A: No, unless the pharmacist has received prescriber authorization to do so. |
| Retail |
Refills |
Q: Does the refill authorization fax have to be kept as the hardcopy when adding refills?
A: Yes, unless the computer system can add refills to the unchanged prescription and the system does not create a new prescription number (documentation of authorizing agent and authorization source must still be retrievable in this situation). |
| Retail |
Refills |
Q: What info has to be on a refill authorization?
A: Date, number of refills authorized, and name of authorizing agent. |
| Retail |
Returns |
Q: Can a pharmacy take back prescriptions after they are dispensed to the patient?
A: If an error is made on a scheduled medication or if it is a nonscheduled medication, the pharmacy may take it back for destruction only. |
| Retail |
Technicians/ Clerks |
Q: Does a technician in another state doing work on behalf of an Oregon pharmacy have to be licensed in Oregon?
A: Yes. |
| Retail |
Technicians/ Clerks |
Q: Can techs take new prescriptions off of voicemail to later be verified by a pharmacist?
A: No. |
| Retail |
Technicians/ Clerks |
Q: Can a clerk take an oral authorization from a prescriber or a prescriber's agent for a refill?
A: No. |
| Retail |
Technicians/ Clerks |
Q: Can clerks pull drugs off of a pharmacy shelf to be used in filling a prescription?
A: No. |
| Retail |
Technicians/ Clerks |
Q: Can a technician take changes on either a prescription or refill request?
A: No. |
| Retail |
Technicians/ Clerks |
Q: When is a technician or clerk allowed to inform the patient of a change in manufacturer?
A: A technician or clerk may inform the patient of a change in manufacturer on a prescription, that doesn't otherwise require counseling from the pharmacist, if the following criteria are met: 1) the pharmacy must have a policy and procedure in place, the technicians and clerks must be trained properly and the training must be documented, 2) the technician or clerk must inform the patient that the pharmacist has changed the manufacturer and that the medication may look different, 3) the technician or clerk must point out the product identification label (PIL) and tell the patient that the PIL should match the contents of the prescription container, and 4) the technician or clerk must then offer the patient an opportunity to speak with the pharmacist. |
| Retail |
Transfers |
Q: When can a prescription be transferred in or out of the country?
A: When they are coming from or going to a US military base or US territory. |
| Retail |
Transfers |
Q: If a prescription is inadvertently faxed to the wrong pharmacy, can that pharmacy fax it to the correct pharmacy?
A: Yes. |
