Kentucky News: ARNP Controlled Substance Prescription Limitations

June 1, 2007 4:13 pm Topics: Controlled substances and Prescriptions

Published in the June 2007 Kentucky Board of Pharmacy Newsletter

Beginning March 9, 2007, additional limitations were placed on the prescriptive authority of advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNP) for controlled substances (CS) by the Kentucky Board of Nursing. Following are the additional limitations pursuant to 201 KAR 20:059:
1. Diazepam (Valium®), clonazepam (Klonopin®), lorazepam (Ativan®), and alprazolam (Xanax®): prescriptions for these medications written by an ARNP shall be limited to a fourteen (14)-day supply without any refills.
2. Carisoprodol (Soma®): prescriptions for this medication written by an ARNP shall be limited to a thirty (30)-day supply without any refills.
3. Combination hydrocodone products in liquid or solid dosage form: prescriptions for these medications written by an ARNP shall be limited to a fourteen (14)-day supply with no refills.
Prescriptions for diazepam, clonazepam, lorazepam, or alprazolam written or dispensed prior to March 9, 2007, for a quantity higher than a fourteen (14)-day supply with refills may be filled one additional time, limited to a fourteen (14)-day supply, and all remaining refills are void.
Prescriptions written for carisoprodol prior to March 9, 2007, and having refills may be dispensed one additional time, limited to a thirty (30)-day supply, and all remaining refills are void.
These new limitations only apply to the above drugs. ARNP may continue to prescribe other CS as allowed by Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS) 314. Please visit the Board’s Web site at www.pharmacy.ky.gov and click on “Kentucky Coalition of Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Midwives,” then click on “Prescribing,” then click on “Guide for KY ARNPs” (page two of this guide shows the original law, and page 17 shows the additional limitations).
When dispensing a CS prescription written by an out-of-state ARNP, a pharmacist must follow the Kentucky statute/regulation regarding the limitations on CS prescriptions.