Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1140-11-.07 - PRESCRIBER AND DISPENSER RESPONSIBILITIES (EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 2013)

(1) All prescribers or their designated healthcare practitioner's extenders, unless otherwise exempted by T.C.A. Title 53, Chapter 10, part 3, shall check the database prior to prescribing one of the controlled substances identified below in paragraph (3) to a human patient at the beginning of a new episode of treatment and shall check the database for the human patient at least annually when that prescribed controlled substance remains part of treatment.

(2) Before dispensing, a dispenser shall have the professional responsibility to check the database or have a healthcare practitioner extender check the database, if the dispenser is aware or reasonably certain, that a person is attempting to obtain a Schedule II-V controlled substance, identified by the Committee as demonstrating a potential for abuse for fraudulent, illegal, or medically inappropriate purposes, in violation of T.C.A. § 53-11-402.

(3) The controlled substances which trigger a check of the database pursuant to paragraph (1) above include, but are not limited to, all opioids and benzodiazepines.

(4) Prescribers are not required to check the database before prescribing or dispensing one of the controlled substances identified in paragraph (3) above or added to that list by the Committee if one (1) or more of the following conditions is met:

(a) The controlled substance is prescribed or dispensed for a patient who is currently receiving hospice care;

(b) The Committee has determined that prescribers in a particular medical specialty shall not be required to check the database as a result of the low potential for abuse by patients receiving treatment in that medical specialty;

(c) The controlled substance is prescribed or dispensed to a patient as a non-refillable prescription as part of treatment for a surgical procedure that occurred in a licensed healthcare facility;

(d) The quantity of the controlled substance which is prescribed or dispensed does not exceed an amount which is adequate for a single, seven-day treatment period and does not allow a refill.

Notes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1140-11-.07

Emergency rule filed January 4, 2013; effective through July 3, 2013. Repeal and new rule filed April 2, 2013; effective July 1, 2013. Rule was previously numbered 1140-11-.06, but was renumbered 1140-11-.07 with the addition of a new rule 1140-01-.03 filed November 22, 2016; effective 2/20/2017.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 53-10-303(f) and 53-10-310.