201 Ky. Admin. Regs. 16:600

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 6, December 1, 2024

Section 201 KAR 16:600 - Prescription and dispensation of drugs for animal use

RELATES TO: KRS 258.015, 321.181(5)(b)

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 321.181(5)(b) provides that the practice of veterinary medicine includes the prescribing, administering, or dispensing of drugs and medications for veterinary purposes. KRS 321.235(3) and 321.240(5) authorize the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners to promulgate administrative regulations to carry out and enforce the provisions of KRS Chapter 321. This administrative regulation establishes a procedure for the prescription and dispensation of drugs by licensed veterinarians for use in animals.

Section 1. Definitions.

(1) "Legend drug" means a veterinary prescription drug.

(2) "Prescription" means an order from a veterinarian to a pharmacist or another veterinarian authorizing the dispensing of a veterinary prescription drug to a client for use on or in a patient.

(3) "Veterinary drug" means:

(a) A drug for animal use recognized in the official United States Pharmacopoeia or official National Formulary of the United States;

(b) A drug intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in animals;

(c) A drug, other than feed, medicated feed, or a growth promoting implant intended to affect the structure or function of the body of an animal; or

(d) A drug intended for use as a component of a drug in paragraph (a), (b), or (c) of this subsection.

(4) "Veterinary prescription drug" means:

(a) A drug that is not safe for animal use without a veterinarian using or ordering the use of the product, and that is required by federal law to bear the following statement: "Caution: federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian";

(b) A drug that is required by state law to be dispensed only on order or prescription of a licensed veterinarian;

(c) The extra-label use of an over-the-counter animal drug or human drug; and

(d) A medicament compounded by mixing two (2) or more legally-obtained over-the-counter or prescription drugs.

Section 2. Prescribing and Dispensing.

(1) A veterinary prescription shall include all of the following:

(a) The name and address of the veterinarian and, if the prescription is a written order, the signature of the veterinarian;

(b) The name and address of the client;

(c) The species and identity of the patient for which the prescription is issued;

(d) The name, strength, and quantity of the drug prescribed;

(e) The date on which the prescription is issued;

(f) The directions for administering the drug;

(g) If the patient is a food producing animal, the withdrawal time for the veterinary drug;

(h) If the prescription authorizes extra-label use, the manner in which the client may use the drug;

(i) Any cautionary statements required by law; and

(j) Number of refills allowed, not to exceed the limitations established in Section 6(2) of this administrative regulation.

(2) A veterinarian shall not prescribe for or dispense to a client a veterinary prescription drug or a drug for extra-label use without first personally examining the patient unless a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) already exists between the prescribing veterinarian, client and patient, and the veterinarian determines that the client has sufficient knowledge to administer the drug properly.

(3) A veterinarian shall not prescribe or dispense a veterinary prescription drug to a client unless the veterinarian indicates in the appropriate records described in Section 4 of this administrative regulation, within seventy-two (72) hours after the prescription is issued or the drug is dispensed, that the prescription has been issued or that the drug has been dispensed.

(4) A veterinarian shall not prescribe a drug to a client for extra-label use on a patient unless all of the following apply:

(a) The VCPR exists between the veterinarian, client and patient, and the veterinarian has made a careful medical diagnosis of the condition of the patient within the context of that VCPR;

(b) The veterinarian determines that there is no drug that is marketed specifically to treat the patient's diagnosed condition, or determines that all of the drugs that are marketed for that purpose are clinically ineffective;

(c) The veterinarian recommends procedures to ensure that the identity of the patient receiving the drug can be readily ascertained in the future; and

(d) If the patient is a food producing animal, the veterinarian prescribes a sufficient time period for drug withdrawal before the food from the patient may be marketed.

(5) A veterinarian shall not transmit a prescription electronically unless the client approves the transmission and the prescription is transmitted to a pharmacist or veterinarian designated by the client.

(6) A veterinarian shall not refuse to write an otherwise appropriate prescription for a patient with a valid VCPR solely because the prescription may be filled at an establishment other than the veterinarian's own clinic or pharmacy.

Section 3. Labeling.

(1) A veterinarian shall not dispense a drug that has been prepared, mixed, formulated, or packaged by the veterinarian unless the veterinarian affixes to the container in which the drug is dispensed a label containing all of the information specified in Section 2(1) of this administrative regulation, except the address of the client.

(2) A veterinarian shall not dispense a veterinary prescription drug that has been prepackaged by its manufacturer for dispensing unless the veterinarian affixes to the container in which the drug is dispensed a label containing all of the information specified in Section 2(1) of this administrative regulation, except the address of the client.

(3) A veterinarian may dispense a veterinary over-the-counter drug without affixing any information to the container in which the drug is dispensed if a label that has been affixed to the container by its manufacturer provides adequate information for its use.

Section 4. Prescription Records.

(1) A veterinarian shall maintain complete records of each veterinary prescription drug that the veterinarian receives, prescribes, dispenses, or administers, and of each prescription issued by the veterinarian that authorizes extra-label use.

(2) Records of each veterinary prescription drug shall include:

(a) The name of each veterinary prescription drug that is received;

(b) The name and address of the person from whom the drug is received;

(c) The date and quantity received;

(d) The name and address of the person to whom the drug is dispensed;

(e) The date and quantity dispensed; and

(f) If the veterinarian prescribes or administers the drug, the information specified in Section 2(1) of this administrative regulation.

(3) Records of each prescription authorizing extra-label use shall include the information specified in Section 2(1) of this administrative regulation.

(4) A veterinarian shall maintain records of each veterinary prescription drug for at least five (5) years after the date on which the veterinarian prescribes, dispenses, or administers the drug or extra-label use.

Section 5.

(1) A veterinarian may refuse to write a prescription for controlled substances or a prescription for any medication that, in the veterinarian's medical judgment, is not appropriate for the patient's medical care.

(2) A veterinarian may refuse to write a prescription if it is not directly requested by a client with whom there is, in the veterinarian's opinion, a current and existing VCPR.

(3) A prescription shall be construed to include any manner of authorization for filling a prescription, including verbal or electronic communication.

(4) The veterinarian may delegate to an office employee the authority to communicate a refill of a legend drug to the pharmacy on behalf of the veterinarian pursuant to written protocol established prior to the delegation of that authority.

Section 6.

(1) A veterinarian shall ensure that federal legend drugs and veterinary prescription drugs are maintained, logged, administered, prescribed, dispensed, and destroyed in compliance with state and federal laws.

(2) A veterinarian shall not prescribe or dispense a quantity of drug that is greater than that the amount required for one (1) year of treatment for an animal, herd, or flock.

(3) To prescribe, sell, distribute, or dispense any drug requiring a prescription for use in the context of an animal, herd, or flock, a veterinarian shall first do all of the following:

(a) Perform an appropriate history and physical examination;

(b) Make a diagnosis based upon the history, physical examination, and pertinent diagnostic and laboratory tests;

(c) Formulate a therapeutic plan, and discuss it with the animal's owner (or the owner's agent), along with the basis for it and the risks and benefits of various treatments options, a part of which might be a prescription drug; and

(d) Ensure availability of the veterinarian or the veterinarian's staff for appropriate follow-up care.

Section 7. Rabies Vaccine Administration. The administration of a rabies vaccine shall be in accordance with the provisions of KRS 258.015 and 902 KAR 2:070.

Section 8.

(1) A veterinarian may dispense a prescription drug only if the prescribing veterinarian has established a VCPR.

(2) If the dispensing veterinarian does not have a VCPR, a licensed veterinary technician or a veterinary assistant may assist in the delivery of a veterinary drug, legend drug, or veterinary prescription drug only while he or she is under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

(3) If the dispensing veterinarian does have a VCPR, a licensed veterinary technician or veterinary assistant may assist in the delivery of a veterinary drug, legend drug, or veterinary prescription drug while he or she is under the indirect supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

(4) If a licensed veterinary technician or a veterinary assistant acts under the provisions of this section, the licensed veterinarian shall ensure that the requirements of this administrative regulation are met.

Section 9. Enforcement. If the board has reason to believe that a veterinarian or person claiming to be a veterinarian is violating or has violated this administrative regulation, the board may:

(1) Inspect the premises on which the veterinarian or person claiming to be a veterinarian possesses, prescribes, dispenses, labels or administers veterinary drugs;

(2) Inspect relevant records, equipment, materials, containers, or facilities;

(3) Collect samples of veterinary drugs found on the premises; and

(4) Conduct any other investigative activities necessary to open a case and issue a determination and, if necessary, hold hearings and enact discipline on the individual.

201 KAR 16:600

46 Ky.R. 1745, 2477, 2618; eff. 6-30-2020.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 321.235(3), 321.240(5)