PRN Refills

PURPOSE: This rule clarifies the board’s requirements for refills as needed so that the practicing pharmacists in Missouri will have adequate guidelines in this area. (1) A pharmacist shall not fill or refill any prescription which was written more than one (1) year before being presented to the pharmacist, unless the pharmacist consults with the prescriber and confirms— (A) That the person for whom the drugs or medicines were prescribed is still under the prescriber’s care or treatment; (B) That the prescriber desires for the person to continue receiving the drugs or medicines; or (C) If the prescriber answers negatively in either case listed in subsection (1)(A) or (B), the pharmacist shall not fill or refill the prescription, even if the prescription authorizes refills as needed (PRN). (2) If a pharmacist knows or has reason to believe that a person for whom a prescription has been written is not under the prescribers care or treatment at the time the prescription is presented for filling or refilling, the pharmacist shall consult with their prescriber and ascertain that the prescriber intends for the person to receive the drugs or medicines. The pharmacist shall do this no matter when the prescription originally was written and even if the prescription authorizes refills PRN. (3) After the pharmacist has confirmed the information required in sections (1) and (2) of this rule, s/he shall record it in his/her records in a uniform fashion so as to make it readily available for verification by the board or its authorized agents. AUTHORITY: section 338.280, RSMo 1994.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 220-2.110. Original rule filed Dec. 11, 1984, effective March 11, 1985. Moved to 20 CSR 2220-2.110, effective Aug. 28, 2006. *Original authority: 338.280, RSMo 1951, amended 1971, 1981.