Law Number

ARS 32-1910

Summary Title

Scope of Practice: Pharmacist Dispensing Prescriptions during a Declared Emergency

Summary

When an emergency declaration is in effect, a licensed pharmacist can work within the affected county, city, or town to dispense one-time emergency prescription refills for medication essential to the maintenance of life or therapy and the pharmacist makes a good faith effort to record the prescription as an emergency prescription. The prescription is limited to a 30 day supply. If the declared emergency extends more than 21 days, a second prescription can be dispensed. An out-of-state pharmacist is required to have proof of licensure from another state and must be engaged in a legitimate relief effort only for the duration of the declared emergency.

Full Title

Emergencies; continued provision of services

Full Text

A. If a natural disaster or terrorist attack occurs and, as a consequence of the natural disaster or terrorist attack, a state of emergency is declared by the governor or by a county, city or town pursuant to its authority and the declared state of emergency results in individuals being unable to refill existing prescriptions, the board shall cooperate with this state and the county, city or town to ensure the provision of drugs, devices and professional services to the public. B. If a natural disaster or terrorist attack occurs in another state and, as a consequence of the natural disaster or terrorist attack, a state of emergency is declared by the governor of that state and the declared state of emergency results in individuals being temporarily relocated to Arizona and unable to refill existing prescriptions, the board shall cooperate with this state to ensure the provision of drugs, devices and professional services to the relocated individuals. C. When a state of emergency has been declared pursuant to this section, a pharmacist may work in the affected county, city or town and may dispense a one-time emergency refill prescription of up to a thirty-day supply of a prescribed medication if both of the following apply: 1. In the pharmacist’s professional opinion the medication is essential to the maintenance of life or to the continuation of therapy. 2. The pharmacist makes a good faith effort to reduce the information to a written prescription marked “emergency prescription” and then files and maintains the prescription as required by law. D. If the state of emergency declared pursuant to this section continues for at least twenty-one days after the pharmacist dispenses an emergency prescription pursuant to subsection C, the pharmacist may dispense one additional emergency refill prescription of up to a thirty day supply of the prescribed medication. E. A pharmacist who is not licensed in this state, but who is currently licensed in another state, may dispense prescription medications in those affected counties, cities or towns in this state during the time that a declared state of emergency exists pursuant to this section if both of the following apply: 1. The pharmacist has proof of licensure in another state. 2. The pharmacist is engaged in a legitimate relief effort during the period of time an emergency has been declared pursuant to this section. F. The board may adopt rules for the provision of pharmaceutical care and drug and device delivery during a declared emergency that is the consequence of a natural disaster or terrorist attack, including the use of temporary or mobile pharmacy facilities and nonresident licensed pharmacy professionals. G. A pharmacist’s authority to dispense prescriptions pursuant to this section ends when the declared state of emergency is terminated.

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