Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 480-22-.11 - Transfer Between Pharmacies of Controlled Substance Prescription Drug Order Information for Refill Purposes

(1) The transfer of original prescription drug order information for a C-III, IV, or V substance for the purpose of refill dispensing is permissible between pharmacies one time only.

(a) However, pharmacies electronically sharing a real-time, online computerized database may transfer the prescription drug order information as many times as there are authorized refills, up to the maximum of five (5) times, if it is within six (6) months from the date of issuance.

(2) A transfer is considered a communication between two licensed pharmacists and/or pharmacy interns/externs. Transfers are subject to the following requirements:

(a) The transferring pharmacist or pharmacy intern/extern shall record the following information in either real time or at the first opportunity after the transfer:

1. The word "VOID" must be written on the face of the original, hard copy, invalidated prescription drug order;

2. The following must be written on the back of the original, invalidated prescription drug order: the name, address, telephone number, and DEA number of the pharmacy to which it is transferred, and the name of the pharmacist receiving the prescription information; and

3. The date of the transfer and the name of the pharmacist transferring the information must be recorded on the back of the prescription drug order.

(b) The pharmacist or pharmacy intern/extern receiving the transferred prescription drug order information shall reduce it to writing and record the following information:

1. The word "TRANSFER" shall be written on the face of the transferred prescription drug order hard-copy;

2. All information required to be recorded on a prescript ion drug order pursuant to this chapter, which shall include:

(i) Date the prescription drug order was originally issued by the prescribing practitioner;

(ii) The number of refills authorized on the original prescription drug order.

(c) Date the prescription drug order was originally dispensed by the transferring pharmacy;

(d) Number of valid refills remaining, and date(s) and pharmacy location(s) where any previous refills were dispensed;

(e) The pharmacy's name, address, telephone number, DEA number, and prescription serial number from which the prescription information was transferred; and

(f) The name of the pharmacist who transferred the prescription drug order.

(3) The original and transferred prescription(s) must be maintained for a period of two yearsfrom the date of the last refill.

(4) Pharmacies electronically transferring a prescription drug order for the purpose of refills must maintain the same information and record keeping requirements as do pharmacies with manual, non-electronic record keeping systems.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 480-22-.11

O.C.G.A. §§ 16-13-34, 16-13-39, 26-4-27, 26-4-28, 26-4-80, 26-4-82.

Original Rule entitled "Transfer Between Pharmacies of Controlled Substance Prescription Drug Order Information for Refill Purposes" adopted. F. July 24, 2002; eff. August 13, 2002. Amended: F. June 22, 2016; eff. July 12, 2016.