Virginia Law

A. The partial filling of a prescription for a drug listed in Schedule II is permissible if the pharmacist is unable to supply the full quantity called for in a written or emergency oral prescription, and he makes a notation of the quantity supplied on the face of the written prescription. The remaining portion of the prescription may be dispensed within 72 hours of the first partial dispensing; however, if the remaining portion is not or cannot be dispensed within the 72-hour period, the pharmacist shall so notify the prescribing practitioner. No further quantity may be supplied beyond 72 hours without a new prescription.

B. Prescriptions for Schedule II drugs written for patients in long-term care facilities may be dispensed in partial quantities, to include individual dosage units. For each partial dispensing, the dispensing pharmacist shall record on the back of the prescription (or on another appropriate record, uniformly maintained and readily retrievable) the date of the partial dispensing, quantity dispensed, remaining quantity authorized to be dispensed, and the identification of the dispensing pharmacist. The total quantity of Schedule II drugs in all partial dispensing shall not exceed the total quantity prescribed. Schedule II prescriptions shall be valid for a period not to exceed 60 days from the issue date unless sooner terminated by the discontinuance of the drug.

C. Information pertaining to current Schedule II prescriptions for patients in a long-term care facility may be maintained in a computerized system if this system has the capability to permit:

1. Output (display or printout) of the original prescription number, date of issue, identification of prescribing practitioner, identification of patient, identification of the long-term care facility, identification of drug authorized (to include dosage form, strength, and quantity), listing of partial dispensing under each prescription, and the information required in subsection B of this section.

2. Immediate (real time) updating of the prescription record each time a partial dispensing of the prescription is conducted.

D. A prescription for a Schedule II drug may be filled in partial quantities to include individual dosage units for a patient with a medical diagnosis documenting a terminal illness under the following conditions:

1. The practitioner shall classify the patient as terminally ill, and the pharmacist shall verify and record such notation on the prescription.

2. On each partial filling, the pharmacist shall record the date, quantity dispensed, remaining quantity authorized to be dispensed, and the identity of the dispensing pharmacist.

3. Prior to the subsequent partial filling, the pharmacist shall determine that it is necessary. The total quantity of Schedule II drugs dispensed in all partial fillings shall not exceed the total quantity prescribed.

4. Schedule II prescriptions for terminally ill patients may be partially filled for a period not to exceed 60 days from the issue date unless terminated sooner.

5. Information pertaining to partial filling may be maintained in a computerized system under the conditions set forth in subsection C of this section.

E. A prescription for a Schedule II drug may be filled in partial quantities if the partial fill is requested by the patient or by the practitioner who wrote the prescription provided:

1. The total quantity dispensed in all partial fillings does not exceed the total quantity prescribed;

2. The prescription is written and filled in accordance with state and federal law; and

3. The remaining portions are filled not later than 30 days after the date on which the prescription is written.