LAC 46:LIII.1147. Starter Doses for Patients in Licensed Healthcare Facilities

A. Definitions Starter Dose Order—a prescription drug order or chart order transmitted by a vendor pharmacy to a starter dose pharmacy for the purpose of obtaining medication for a patient in a licensed health care facility. Starter dose pharmacy—a Louisiana-licensed pharmacy that dispenses a starter dose of medication to a patient in a licensed health care facility pursuant to a starter dose order. Vendor Pharmacy—a Louisiana-licensed pharmacy which has a contract with a licensed health facility to dispense medications to patients within that facility. B. A vendor pharmacy may share a chart order with a starter dose pharmacy without the necessity of transferring such order, for the purpose of authorizing the starter dose pharmacy to dispense starter doses of medication to a patient in a licensed health care facility under the following circumstances: 1. the vendor pharmacy has secured authorization from the facility to utilize a starter dose pharmacy; 2. the vendor pharmacy is in possession of a valid chart order and is unable to furnish the medication ordered in a timely manner; and 3. the vendor pharmacy and starter dose pharmacy maintain records of all chart orders and starter dose orders for a period of not less than two years following date of transmission of such orders.