Montana News: Handling Fraudulent Prescriptions

October 1, 2008 11:34 am Topics: Practitioner prescriber and Prescriptions

Reprinted from the October 2008 Montana Board of Pharmacy Newsletter.

Sooner or later every pharmacist will have to deal with a fraudulent prescription. When the validity of a prescription is an issue, after the practitioner has been contacted and it has been determined you have a forged document, here are some steps a pharmacist can take:

1. Contact local law enforcement immediately using “911.”
2. Advise the patient that the prescription will take a little time to fill. Do not mention your suspicions of fraud or diversion. Hopefully this will allow time for a police officer/deputy to come to the pharmacy while the customer or suspect is still present.
3. Obtain a clear description of the suspect and any other persons with them. If possible, record or make a copy of any personally identifying information such as a driver’s license with a photo on it. Record name and address if possible.
4. If your pharmacy has video surveillance, secure the tape for police to review.
5. Document any facts concerning the transaction, ie, the usual who, what, where, when, and how. Document, document, document!
6. Maintain custody of the prescription, if possible. Do not, however, put your staff or yourself at risk. If you are or feel threatened, give the prescription back to the suspect. Do not put others or yourself in harms way.
7. Suspects often realize that the prescription in question is evidence of a crime and can be the evidence needed for a successful criminal prosecution. Try to preserve such evidence.
8. Limit handling of the suspect prescription to the extent possible. Ways to accomplish this include placing the document in a plastic or paper bag, or in an envelope.
9. Notify the Board of Pharmacy of the incident. The suspect(s) may be working the area, and the Board can thus provide useful information to law enforcement jurisdictions.