Pharmacies may transfer information among themselves for refill purposes for schedule III, IV, and V prescriptions on a one-time basis only, if state law allows. Regulations enacted in March 28, 1997, however, allow pharmacies that electronically share a real-time online database to transfer back and forth up to the maximum refills permitted by law and the prescriber's authorization. A transfer can take place only by means of direct communication between two licensed pharmacists (21 C.F.R. § 1306.25).
The transferring pharmacist must:
Write "void" on the face of the invalidated prescription; for electronic prescriptions, information that the prescription was transferred must be added to the prescription record
Record on the back of the invalidated prescription the name, address, and DEA registration number of the pharmacy to which the prescription was transferred as well as the name of the pharmacist receiving the information; for electronic prescriptions, such information must be added to the prescription record
Record the date of the transfer and the name of the pharmacist transferring the information
The pharmacist receiving the information must:
Write "transfer" on the face of the transferred prescription. Reduce to writing all information required on a schedule III, IV, or V prescription, including:
The date of issuance of the original prescription
The original number of refills authorized
The date of original dispensing
The number of refills remaining and the date(s) and locations of previous refill(s)
The transferring pharmacy's name, address, the DEA number, and the prescription number
The name of the transferor pharmacist
The pharmacy's name, address, DEA number, and prescription number from which the prescription was originally filled
For electronic prescriptions transferred electronically, the transferring pharmacist must provide the receiving pharmacist with the following information in addition to the original electronic prescription data:
The date of the original dispensing
The number of refills remaining and the date(s) and locations of previous refills
The transferring pharmacy's name, address, DEA registration number, and prescription number for each dispensing
The name of the pharmacist transferring the prescription
The name, address, DEA registration number, and prescription number from the pharmacy that originally filled the prescription, if different
The pharmacist receiving a transferred electronic prescription must create an electronic record for the prescription that includes the receiving pharmacist's name and all of the information transferred with the prescription (listed above).
The original and transferred prescription(s) must be maintained for a period of 2 years from the date of the last refill.