Prescription Transfers

Prescription Transfers & Forwarding

PRESCRIPTION TRANSFER RULES

Must be requested by the patient or authorized person
Controlled substances cannot be transferred
All remaining refills are transferred
The prescription being transferred is invalidated
Transfer occurs between pharmacists (or pharmacy interns acting as either)
Transfer can be oral, written, or electronic
Serial number for transfer prescriptions is TTTTTTT
Records are kept for five years
Pharmacists are no longer permitted to transfer only one refill at a time
Pharmacist is not required to transfer prescription

TRANSFERRING PHARMACIST MUST DOCUMENT

That a prescription and it’s refills were transferred
Receiving pharmacy’s name, address, and phone number
Receiving pharmacist’s name
Transferring pharmacist’s name
Date of transfer

RECEIVING PHARMACIST MUST DOCUMENT

All prescription info per Section 29.7(a)(1)
A hard copy or electronic record labeled “TRANSFER”
Dates of original and most recent fill/transfer
The original number of refills authorized
The number of valid refills remaining
Transferring pharmacy’s name and address
Original prescription number
Names of both transferring and receiving pharmacists

PRESCRIPTION FORWARDING – NY PUBLIC HEALTH LAW §281

Eligibility: Applies to electronic prescriptions received by a pharmacy.
Conditions:

Prescription must not have been dispensed.
Transfer must be requested by the patient or an authorized representative.

Action: Pharmacy may immediately forward the prescription to another pharmacy designated by the requester.
Legal Reference: Section 281, Title 3, Article 2-A, Chapter 45 of NY Public Health Law.

TRANSFERRING VS FORWARDING

A pharmacy that receives an electronic prescription from the person issuing the prescription may, if the prescription has not been dispensed and at the request of the patient or a person authorized to make the request on behalf of the patient, immediately transfer or forward such prescription to an alternative pharmacy designated by the requesting party.

Editor’s Note: Although this became law on February 26, 2017, guidance is still forthcoming.

References

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