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Idaho News: Authorization to "Refill" Received Via Fax
Published in the December 2008 Idaho State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter
Rule 447.03 requires that “additional quantities of controlled substances . . . only be authorized . . . through the issuance of a new prescription.” Statute 54-1732 (3)(b) mandates the same for all legend drugs. “Refill” authorization received via fax, can be signed by the prescribing practitioner or their agent. This authorization may then be utilized to generate a prescription hard copy; however, the authorization, most likely, cannot stand on its own as a hard copy, because it does not conform to all requirements of a prescription, as per rule 159.01. If the authorization does conform to rule 159.01, it may be used as the prescription hard copy, realizing it must be signed by the practitioner and not the practitioner’s agent. Authorization to refill may be telephoned to the pharmacy by the practitioner’s agent as an oral prescription. A pharmacy technician may receive verbal refill information from a practitioner or the practitioner’s agent, regarding the amount authorized, but not changes to the original prescription, ie, strength, quantity, directions, or practitioner name. Any change to the original prescription must be taken by a pharmacist.
