General Law Committee
AN ACT AUTHORIZING PHARMACISTS TO DISPENSE DRUGS IN NINETY-DAY QUANTITIES
SUMMARY: This act allows a pharmacist to refill a prescription for a drug, other than a controlled drug, in an amount greater than the initial quantity prescribed by the practitioner if the:
1. refill is made after the initial prescription is dispensed and does not exceed (a) a 90-day supply and (b) the total quantity authorized by the practitioner;
2. practitioner does not indicate that the initial or refill quantity cannot be changed;
3. pharmacist informs the practitioner of the refill at the earliest reasonable time, but no later than 48 hours after the refill; and
4. patient's health insurance policy or health benefit plan, if any, will cover the refill quantity at no additional coinsurance, deductible, or other out-of-pocket expense from the patient.
By law, controlled drugs are generally those (1) with a depressant, stimulant, or hallucinogenic effect upon the higher functions of the central nervous system and (2) that tend to promote abuse or dependence (CGS § 21a-240).
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2015
OLR Tracking: KLM; KD; VR; BS