Ala. Admin. Code r. 540-X-7-.28

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 12, September 30, 2024

Section 540-X-7-.28 - Prescriptions And Medication Orders - Physician Assistants (P.A.)

(1) A physician assistant may prescribe a legend drug to a patient subject to both of the following conditions being met:

(a) The drug type, dosage, quantity prescribed, and number of refills are authorized in the job description which is signed by the supervising physician to whom the physician assistant is currently registered and which is approved by the Board; and

(b) The drug is included in the formulary approved by the Board for governing the prescription practices of physician assistants.

(2) Subject to any limitations stated in protocols and medical regimens adopted by the Board and subject to any limitations by the supervising physician in the approved formulary, a physician assistant may prescribe any drug, substance or compound which is listed in Schedules III through V of the Alabama Uniform Controlled Substances Act upon being granted a Qualified Alabama Controlled Substances Certificate (QACSC) and upon submission of an approved QACSC formulary.

(3) The supervising physician and the physician assistant shall adhere to and follow all requirements and procedures stated in written guidelines established by the Board to govern the prescribing practices of physician assistants.

(4) A physician assistant who is registered to a physician with prescriptive privileges shall not engage in prescribing for:

(a) Self.

(b) Immediate family members.

(5) A physician assistant may not initiate a call-in prescription in the name of the supervising physician for any drug which the assistant is not authorized to prescribe unless the drug is specifically ordered for the patient by the supervising physician either in writing or by a verbal order reduced to writing and signed within seven (7) working days of the date of the prescription.

(6) For any drug which the physician assistant is authorized to prescribe, a written prescription signed by the physician assistant and entered into the patient's chart may be called-in to a pharmacy.

(7) Whenever a physician assistant calls in a prescription to a pharmacy, the physician assistant shall identify his or her supervising physician.

(8) A physician assistant may administer any legend drug or controlled drug which the assistant is authorized to prescribe.

(9) When prescribing legend drugs or controlled drugs a physician assistant shall use a prescription form which includes all of the following:

(a) The name, medical practice site address and telephone number of the physician supervising the physician assistant;

(b) The medical practice site address and telephone number of the physician assistant, if different from the address of the supervising physician;

(c) The physician assistant's license number assigned by the Board and the QACSC registration number, when a controlled substance is prescribed;

(d) The words "Product Selection Permitted" printed on one side of the prescription form directly underneath a signature line; and

(e) The words "Dispense as written" printed on one side of the prescription form directly underneath a signature line.

(10) For inpatients and nursing home patients, a physician assistant may enter a verbal order from the supervising physician for controlled substances or other medications which the assistant is not authorized to prescribe, provided that the order is co-signed by the supervising physician in accordance with established guidelines and institutional policies.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 540-X-7-.28

Repealed and Replaced: Filed September 21, 1998; effective October 26, 1998. Repealed and New Rule: Filed August 22, 2002; effective September 26, 2002. Repealed and New Rule: Filed September 19, 2002; effective October 24, 2002. Amended: Filed September 11, 2008; effective October 16, 2008. Amended: Filed November 20, 2008; effective December 25, 2008. Amended: Filed February 17, 2010; effective March 24, 2010.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXIV, Issue No. 03, December 31, 2015, eff. 1/30/2016.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXIV, Issue No. 07, April 29, 2016, eff. 5/30/2016.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXIX, Issue No. 02, November 30, 2020, eff. 1/14/2021.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XL, Issue No. 01, October 29, 2021, eff. 12/13/2021.

Author: Alabama Board of Medical Examiners

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 34-24-290, et. seq.