21 NCAC 46 .1815             EMERGENCY PRESCRIPTION REFILL DUE TO INTERRUPTION OF MEDICAL SERVICES

In the event a pharmacist or device and medical equipment permit holder receives a request for a prescription refill and the pharmacist or permit holder is unable to readily obtain refill authorization from the prescriber because of the prescriber's inability to provide medical services to the patient, the pharmacist or permit holder may dispense a one-time emergency supply of up to 90 days of the prescribed medication, provided that:

(1)           The prescription is not for a Schedule II controlled substance;

(2)           The medication is essential to the maintenance of life or to the continuation of therapy in a chronic condition;

(3)           In the pharmacist's or permit holder's professional judgment, the interruption of therapy might reasonably produce undesirable health consequences;

(4)           The dispensing pharmacist or permit holder creates a written order entered in the pharmacy's automated data processing system containing all of the prescription information required by Section .2300 of these Rules and signs that order;

(5)           The dispensing pharmacist or permit holder notifies, or makes a good faith attempt to notify, the prescriber or the prescriber's office of the emergency dispensing within 72 hours after such dispensing.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90-85.6; 90-85.25; 90-85.32;

Temporary Adoption Eff. October 29, 1998;

Eff. August 1, 2000;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. October 3, 2017.