Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 480-22-.08 - Refilling of Schedule III, IV, and V (C-III, IV, V) Controlled Substance Prescription Drug Orders

(1) No prescription drug order for a C-III, IV, or V controlled substance shall be filled or refilled more than six (6) months after the date on which such prescription drug order was issued by the prescribing practitioner and no such prescription drug order may be authorized to be refilled for the quantity prescribed more than five (5) times.

(a) Nothing shall prohibit the refilling of such a prescription drug order in amounts less than the quantity prescribed as long as the total number of dosage units authorized for dispensing both the original quantity plus the refill quantities does not exceed six (6) months.

(2) The date of each refilling of a prescription drug order shall be entered on the back of the prescription drug order or in a computerized record system, with which all documents must be uniformly maintained and readily retrievable.

(3) If the pharmacist initials and dates the back of the prescription drug order, it shall be deemed that the full face amount of the prescription has been dispensed. If an amount other than the full face amount is dispensed, the quantity shall be noted next to the initials of the pharmacist.

(4) The prescribing practitioner may authorize additional refills of the original C-III, IV or V controlled substance prescription drug order through an oral refill authorization transmitted directly to the pharmacist or pharmacy intern/extern working under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist provided the following conditions are met:

(a) The total quantity of refills authorized, including the quantity of refills indicated on the original prescription drug order does not exceed five (5) refills and does not extend beyond six (6) months from the date of issue of the original prescription drug order.

(b) The pharmacist or pharmacy intern/extern that receives the oral authorization shall record on the reverse side of the original prescription drug order the date, quantity of refill, number of additional refills authorized (for the quantity prescribed), and the initials showing who received the authorization from the prescribing practitioner that issued the original prescription drug order.

(c) The quantity of each additional refill authorized is equal to or less than the quantity authorized for the initial filling of the original prescription drug order.

(d) The prescribing practitioner must execute or authorize a completely new and separate prescription drug order for any additional quantities beyond the five (5) refills and/or six (6) month limitation.

(e) If the authorization comes from a practitioner that is not the original prescriber, the authorization shall be treated as a new prescription drug order authorized by the new prescribing practitioner.

(5) An automated data processing (ADP) or computerized system may be used for the storage and retrieval of refill information for prescription drug orders for C-III, IV or V substances, subject to the requirements as set forth in Rule 480-27-.04.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 480-22-.08

O.C.G.A. Secs. 16-13-34, 16-13-39, 16-13-41, 26-4-27, 26-4-80, 26-4-83.

Original Rule entitled "Refilling of Schedule III, IV, and V (C-III, IV, V) Controlled Substance Prescription Drug Orders" adopted. F. July 24, 2002; eff. August 13, 2002.