1301.1 In addition to conforming to all applicable federal and District requirements, a written prescription drug order shall contain the following:

1. (a) The printed or typed full name, address, and telephone number of the practitioner;
2. (b) The original, legal signature of the practitioner, in ink;
3. (c) The date of issuance;
4. (d) The full name of the patient;
5. (e) The name, strength and quantity of the drug prescribed, directions for use, and number of refills, when applicable; and
6. (f) Be written in ink, indelible pencil or typewriter.

1301.2 In addition to the requirements of § 1301.1, a prescription drug order for a controlled substance shall also include the following:

1. (a) The patient's address;
2. (b) The practitioner's Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration number;
3. (c) The practitioner's District of Columbia controlled substances registration number, if applicable;
4. (d) Be signed by the practitioner in the same manner as the practitioner would sign a check or legal document (for example: "J.H. Smith" or "John H. Smith").

1301.3 Any person who is exempted from registration under federal or District of Columbia statute shall include on all prescriptions for controlled substances issued by him or her the registration number of the hospital or other institution and the special internal code number assigned to him or her by the hospital or other institution as provided in the Act or this chapter, in lieu of the registration number of the practitioner required by this chapter.

1301.4 An official exempted from registration under federal or District of Columbia statute shall include on all prescriptions issued by that individual, his or her branch of service or agency (e.g., "U.S. Army" or "Public Health Service") and

the individual's service identification number, in lieu of the registration number of the practitioner required by this chapter.

1301.5 The service identification number for a Public Health Service employee is his or her social security identification number or, if applicable, his or her National Provider Identifier (NPI) number. Each prescription shall have the name of the individual stamped or printed on it, as well as the signature of the individual.

1301.6 The dispensing pharmacist shall document the following information on each prescription order that has been dispensed:

(a) The name or initials of the pharmacist who performed the final verification; and

(b) Any change or alteration made to the prescription dispensed based on contact with the practitioner to show a clear audit trail. This shall include but not be limited to, a change in quantity, directions, or number of refills.

1301.7 Authorization obtained from the practitioner to substitute a drug, shall be documented on the prescription order, except in the case of an institutional pharmacy which maintains readily retrievable, written, documented policies authorizing such substitution.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 33 DCR 1046, 1064 (February 21, 1986); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 10055 (December 22, 2006).