Download Washington State Department of Health Pharmacy Quality

Washington State Department of Health
Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission
Emergency/Disaster Prescription Refill Guidelines
If a patient displaced due to the Eastern Washington wild fires needs medication, any retail pharmacy may provide
a seven (7) day supply of maintenance medications if the patient presents their prescription vial or the pharmacy
can refer to their pharmacy records or the patient’s current medical record from a medical facility to verify the
patient’s prescription history. The pharmacy should notify the patient’s normal pharmacy or practitioner after the
pharmacy or office opens to let them know about the emergency prescriptions. As always, the pharmacist should
document the fill as a prescription, noting the information they obtained, and use their best judgment to determine
what a seven day supply of medications is.
Controlled substances: The DEA has authorized an emergency seven (7) day fill of schedule III – V controlled
substances provided the patient presents a prescription vial.
If the patient does not have the original prescription container, or the pharmacy cannot verify the patient’s
medications, the pharmacy should contact the patient’s normal pharmacy or practitioner to authorize or verify the
prescription. If the pharmacy is not able to contact the patient’s practitioner or pharmacy, the patient should be
directed to an emergency department or urgent care clinic.
If your patient’s prescription is expired and the pharmacist is unable to readily obtain refill authorization from the
prescriber, the pharmacist may dispense a one-time emergency refill of up to a 72-hour supply of the prescribed
medication as described in WAC 246-869-100.
For Medicaid reimbursement, the pharmacy should follow Health Care Authority emergency fill rules. The
pharmacy must notify the HCA within 3 days of the claim. Pharmacies can contact HCA at 1-800-562-3022 if
they have questions.
As always the pharmacist should use his or her professional judgment to determine if the interruption of therapy
might reasonably cause undesirable health consequences or physical or mental discomfort.
If you have any questions, please call the Pharmacy Commission staff at (360) 236-4999.
WAC 246-869-100
Prescription record requirements.
(1) Records for the original prescription and refill records shall be maintained on the filled prescription or in a
separate record book or patient medication record. Such records must be maintained for a period of at least two
years and shall be made available for inspection to representatives of the board of pharmacy.
(2) The pharmacist shall be required to insure that the following information be recorded:
(a) Original prescription—At the time of dispensing, a serial number, date of dispensing, and the initials of the
responsible pharmacist shall be placed on the face of the prescription. The patient's address must be readily
available to the pharmacist, either from the face of the prescription, a record book, patient medication record, or
hospital or clinic record.
(b) Refill prescription authorization—Refills for prescription for legend drugs must be authorized by the
prescriber prior to the dispensing of the refill prescription.
(c) Refill prescription—At the time of dispensing, the date of refilling, quantity of the drug (if other than
original), the name of authorizing person (if other than original), and the initials of the responsible pharmacist shall
be recorded on the back side of the prescription, or in a separate record book or patient medication record.
(d) Prescription refill limitations—No prescription may be refilled for a period longer than one year from the
date of the original prescription. "PRN" prescriptions shall expire at the end of one year. Expired prescriptions
require authorization before filling. If granted a new prescription shall be written and placed in the files.
(e) Prescription copies—Prescription copies and prescription labels presented for filling must be considered as
informational only, and may not be used as the sole document. The prescriber shall be contacted for complete
information and authorization. If granted, a new prescription shall be written and placed on file. Copies of
prescriptions must be clearly identified as such on the face of the prescription. The transfer of original prescription
information is permitted if the provisions of WAC 246-869-090 are met.
(f) Emergency refills—If the prescriber is not available and in the professional judgment of the pharmacist an
emergency need for the medication has been demonstrated, the pharmacist may dispense enough medication to
last until a prescriber can be contacted - but not to exceed 72 hours' supply. The prescriber shall be promptly
notified of the emergency refill.