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Q. |
When may a pharmacist
decline to fill a
prescription? |
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A. |
A pharmacist may decline to
fill a prescription if the
pharmacist, in his or her
professional judgment,
believes that:
-
Filling the prescription
would be unlawful;
-
Filling the prescription
would be potentially
harmful to the medical
health of the patient;
-
The prescription is
fraudulent; or
-
The prescription is not
for a legitimate medical
purpose.
Before declining to fill a
prescription, the pharmacist
must contact the prescriber
to discuss the pharmacist’s
concerns regarding the
prescription. Before
speaking with the prescriber,
the pharmacist may:
-
Keep the prescription
and not return it to the
patient;
-
Return the prescription
to the patient;
-
Make a copy of the
prescription and return
the prescription to the
patient;
-
Dispense no more than a
three-day supply of the
drug while trying to
reach the prescriber
[NOTE: a pharmacist may
not dispense any CII
until he or she speaks
with the prescriber].
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Authority:
NAC 639.753 |
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|
Q. |
What should a pharmacist do
if he or she determines that
a prescription is unlawful,
fraudulent, or not for a
legitimate purpose?
|
|
A. |
If a pharmacist determines
that a prescription is
unlawful, fraudulent, or not
for a legitimate purpose,
the pharmacist shall not
fill the prescription, shall
retain the prescription, and
may not return it to
the patient.
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Authority:
NAC 639.753(4) |
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|
Q. |
How long is a pharmacy
required to keep
prescription records?
|
|
A. |
The Board of Pharmacy
requires that all pharmacy
records, including
prescriptions, be retained
on file for at least two
years.
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Authority:
NAC
639.236(1) |
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|
Q. |
Can a pharmacist accept a
faxed CII prescription? |
|
A. |
A CII prescription can be
faxed by a practitioner to a
pharmacy only
when:
-
The
controlled substance
will be compounded for
the direct
administration to a
patient by parenteral,
intravenous,
intramuscular,
subcutaneous or
intraspinal infusion;
-
The
controlled substance is
issued to a resident of
a facility for long-term
care;
OR
-
The controlled substance
is issued to a patient
enrolled in a licensed
program that provides
hospice care.
|
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Authority:
NAC 639.711(1)(a),(b), and
(c) |
| |
|
Q. |
How many Pharmaceutical
Technicians are allowed for
each pharmacist on duty?
|
|
A. |
The ratio of pharmaceutical
technicians to pharmacists
cannot exceed three to one.
Pharmaceutical
technicians-in-training
count against this ratio,
but interns do not.
|
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Authority:
NAC 639.1371 |
| |
|
Q. |
How do I get a patient
profile from the Controlled
Substances Task Force?
|
|
A. |
The Prescription Controlled
Substance Abuse Prevention
Task Force is the ONLY
agency with access to
patient drug utilization.
Please contact them at (775)
687-5694 or fax the Task
Force a request at (775)
687-5161. DO NOT
refer anyone to the Board of
Pharmacy, as the Board does
not have access to patient
information.
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Authority:
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|
Q. |
Where can I complain if I
have problems or concerns
with the way an insurance
company has acted, including
delays with processing or
denials for pharmacy claims?
|
|
A. |
The Nevada Insurance
Commissioner has invited
complaints regarding
pharmacy claims to be sent
to her office.
Click
here for the
Insurance Complaint Form
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Authority:
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|
Q. |
Does a prescription for
Accutane (Isotretinoin) need
an I-PLEDGE sticker?
|
|
A. |
No, a prescription for
Accutane does not need an
I-PLEDGE sticker in order to
fill it. Since the sticker
is not required, phone in
prescriptions of Accutane
are also allowed. If you
have more questions, please
visit the FAQ page on the
I-PLEDGE website
or call their toll free
hotline at 1-866-495-0654
for more information.
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Authority: |
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|
Q. |
Is the Board of Pharmacy
involved in the process of
licensing and regulating
medical marijuana?
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|
A. |
The Board of Pharmacy has no
jurisdiction over the
medical use of marijuana.
Please contact the
Division of Health, Jennifer
McComb at (775) 687-7594 for further
information.
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Authority: |
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|
Q. |
What is the National
Provider Identifier (NPI)
number?
|
|
A. |
All pharmacists must have an
individual NPI number by May
23, 2007. Applications to
obtain an NPI began on May
23, 2005. The National
Provider Identifier (NPI)
number is a unique,
government-issued, standard
identification number for
individual health care
providers and provider
organizations like clinics,
hospitals, schools and group
practices. The government
has contracted with an
external company for
processing applications and
developing these random
10-digit numbers for
applicants. If you need an
NPI number you can apply at
the NPPES website. Please
refer to the FAQ website and
use NPI numbers for your
search term to find answers
to more of your questions.
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Authority: |
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|
Q. |
Are partial fills of CIII
and CIV prescriptions
considered refills under
Nevada law?
|
|
A. |
No, under Nevada law a
partial fill of CIII and CIV
prescriptions are not
considered to be refills. A
complete filling of a
prescription or a complete
filling of a refill of a
prescription does not occur
until all the drug
authorized by the
practitioner has been
provided. Thus, a
prescription authorizing 30
dosage units is not deemed a
complete filling or
refilling until 30 dosage
units have been dispensed,
whether dispensed in one
filling of 30 or in three
partial fills of 10 each.
|
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Authority: 21 CFR
§1306.22(a) & NAC 453.460 |
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|
Q. |
When is a positive ID
required?
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|
A. |
The general rule is that for
the first filling of any
controlled substances
prescription for a patient,
a pharmacy must obtain from
the patient a current and
valid form of identification
issued by a federal, state,
or local governmental agency
that contains a photograph
of the patient. A positive
ID is not
required when:
-
The prescription is paid
for, in whole or in
part, by an insurer;
-
A prescription is for a
patient who has had a
prescription for the
same controlled
substance previously
filled by the pharmacy;
OR
-
The pharmacy is a part
of a health care
facility where the
patient is being
treated.
NOTE:
When the pharmacy obtains
the identification, it must
make a copy of the
identification and keep the
copy with the prescription
OR enter the
identification number on the
prescription, the refill
log, the counseling log, or
a computer record regarding
the patient.
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Authority: NAC
639.748 |
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