Introduced in the WV Senate, SB 1, provides the conditions under which a pharmacist may partially fill a prescription, and the limitations on subsequently filling the remaining portion of that prescription. Below is complete text of the proposed law amending Chapter 30, Article 5, Section 27 of the Pharmacy Practice Act. Language deleted from current law is stricken. New language is in “bold” type.
(a) The partial fill of a prescription is permissible for any prescription if the pharmacist is unable to supply, or the patient, or the prescribing individual practitioner requests less than the full quantity called for in a written, electronic, or oral prescription, provided the pharmacist makes a notation of the quantity supplied on either the written prescription or in the electronic record.
(b) The partial filling of a prescription for a controlled substance listed in Schedule II is permissible if: if the pharmacist is unable to supply or the patient requests less than the full quantity called for in the prescription
(1) The prescription is written and filled in accordance with this article:
(2) The partial filling is requested by the patient or the prescribing individual practitioner that wrote the prescription; and
(3) The total quantity dispensed in all partial fillings does not exceed the total quantity prescribed.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section the remaining portion of the any prescription partially filled pursuant to the provisions of subsection (1) or (b) of this section may be filled within seventy-two hours thirty days of the first partial filing: Provided, That if the remaining portion is not or cannot be filled within the seventy-two hour thirty-day period, the pharmacist shall notify the prescribing individual practitioner and further quantity may not be supplied beyond seventy-two hours thirty days without a new prescription.
(d) In emergency situations, the remaining portions of a partially filled prescription for a controlled substance in Schedule II may be filled, but shall be filled no later than seventy-two hours after the prescription is issued.
(e) For purposes of subsection (d) of this section, the term “emergency situation” means those situations in which the prescribing practitioner determines:
(1) That immediate administration of the controlled substance is necessary for proper treatment of the intended ultimate user;
(2) That no appropriate alternative treatment is available, including administration of a drug which is not a controlled substance listed in Schedule II; and
(3) That it is not reasonably possible for the prescribing practitioner to provide a written prescription to be presented to the person dispensing the substance prior to the dispensing.
