A. Yes, a pharmacist has a corresponding responsibility along with the prescriber to make sure controlled substance prescriptions are written for a legitimate patient, for a legitimate medical need in the usual course of practice of the prescriber. Title 21 CFR 1306.04 KRS 218A.180(3)
Q. What can a pharmacist do to determine the validity of a controlled substance prescription, thus demonstrating corresponding responsibility?
A. There are red flags a pharmacist can look for when trying to determine the validity of a prescription. This list is not inclusive and does not take the place of a pharmacist’s professional judgment.
Does the pharmacist have a relationship with the prescriber?
Does the pharmacist have a relationship with the patient?
What is the distance a patient is driving to see the prescriber?
What is the home address of the patient?
In what community is the prescriber practicing?
Have people unknown to the pharmacist called asking if a specific medication or a specific manufacturer of a medication is stocked by the pharmacy?
When prescriptions are filled for one patient, do many, many more start coming to the pharmacy?
Is every patient receiving the exact same prescriptions?
Does the prescriber take cash only?