Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 480-22-.07 - Requirements of Schedule III, IV and V (C-III, IV, V) Controlled Substance Prescription Drug Orders

(1) A pharmacist or pharmacy intern/extern may dispense Schedule III, IV and V Controlled Substances (C-III, IV, V), as defined by O.C.G.A. §§ 16-13-27, 16-13-28, and 16-13-29, pursuant to:

(a) A written prescription drug order bearing the signature of a practitioner as permitted by this rule;

(b) A facsimile of a written, signed prescription drug order transmitted directly to the pharmacy with the requirements contained in O.C.G.A. § 26-4-80, by the practitioner of the practitioner's agent;

(c) An oral prescription drug order made by an individual practitioner and promptly reduced to writing by the pharmacist or pharmacy intern/extern to a hard copy; and

(d) A written prescription drug order transmitted via electronic means other than a facsimile, if it meets the requirements and limitations for electronically transmitted prescription drug orders set forth in O.C.G.A. § 26-4-80, and Rules as set forth by the Board. Such electronically received prescription drug orders must be promptly reduced to hard copy, except as follows:

(2) Permanent records of electronic prescriptions do not have to be reduced to hard copy provided the following requirements are met:

A). Electronic prescription data must be maintained in the original format received for a minimum of two years; and

B). Reliable backup copies of the information are readily retrievable and stored in a secure and fireproof (minimum 1hr UL approved) container, stored in a secured offsite location or backed up to a documented offsite secure storage device within 48 hours following each work day.

(3) A pharmacy must either file the original prescription drug order or generate a hard copy prescription drug order to be filled, both of which are required to contain all of the information required by this chapt

(4) Upon dispensing a C-III, IV, or V controlled substance, the dispensing pharmacist shall ensure that his or her initials, the dispensing date, and the prescription serial number appear on the face of or the rear of each such prescription. Nothing shall prohibit the use of a computer-generated label to fulfill the requirements of this paragraph and/or the requirements of this Rule.

(a) All such information shall be placed on the prescription drug order in such a manner that it does not cover or veil any information required by this chapter or any other rule or law to appear on such prescription.

(5) Prescription drug orders for schedule C-III, IV, or V controlled substances shall be maintained either in a separate prescription drug order file for such C-III, IV, or V drug orders only or in such a form that they are readily retrievable from the other prescription drug orders of the pharmacy.

(a) A prescription drug order will be deemed readily retrievable if, at the time it is initially filled, the face of the prescription drug order is stamped in red ink in the lower right corner with the letter "C" no less than 1 inch high and filed in the usual consecutively numbered prescription drug order file for dangerous drugs; or

(b) A pharmacy which utilizes a computerized record keeping system for prescription drug orders which permits identification of prescription drug orders by serial number and retrieval of documents by prescriber's name, patient's name, drug dispensed, and date filled, then there is no requirement to mark hard copy prescriptions with a red "C".

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 480-22-.07

O.C.G.A. Secs. 16-13-34, 16-13-39, 16-13-41, 26-4-27, 26-4-80, 26-4-83.

Original Rule entitled "Requirements of Schedule III, IV and V (C-III, IV, V) Controlled Substance Prescription Drug Order" adopted. F. July 24, 2002; eff. August 13, 2002. Amended: F. Dec. 14, 2012; eff. Jan. 3, 2013.