Rule 480-22-.06. Partial Filling of a Schedule II (C-II) Controlled Substance Prescription Drug Order

1. (1) The partial filling of a schedule II (C-II) prescription drug order is permissible, if the pharmacist is unable to supply the full quantity prescribed in a written or emergency oral prescription drug order, and the pharmacist makes a notation of the quantity dispensed on the face of the written prescription, written record of the emergency oral prescription, or in the electronic prescription record.

   1. (a) The remaining portion of the prescription drug order may be filled within 72 hours of the first partial filling.
   2. (b) If the remaining portion is not or cannot be filled within the 72-hour period, the pharmacist shall notify the prescribing individual practitioner.
   3. (c) No further quantity may be supplied beyond 72 hours without a new prescription drug order.

2. (2) Partial filling of a prescription drug order for a schedule II (C-II) controlled substance at the request of the prescribing practitioner or patient:

   1. (a) A prescription drug order for a schedule II (C-II) controlled substance may be partially filled if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

      1. 1. The prescription drug order is written and filled in accordance with State and Federal law;
      2. 2. The partial fill is requested by the patient, by one acting on behalf of the patient (parent or legal guardian of a minor patient, or caregiver of an adult patient named in a medical power of attorney), or by the practitioner who wrote the prescription drug order; and
      3. 3. The total quantity dispensed in all partial fillings does not exceed the total quantity prescribed.
   2. (b) Non-emergency Prescription Drug Orders. If all the conditions of paragraph (2)(a) of this section are satisfied, and the prescription drug order is partially filled, remaining portions of a partially filled prescription drug order for a schedule II (C-II) controlled substance, if filled, must be filled not later than 30 days, after the date on which the prescription drug order is written; or within such other time as provided by 21 C.F.R. § 1306.13.
   3. (c) Emergency Oral Prescription Drug Orders. If all the conditions of paragraph (2)(a) of this section are satisfied, and the prescription drug order is partially filled, remaining portions of a partially filled emergency oral prescription drug order for a schedule II (C-II) controlled substance, if filled, must be filled not later than 72 hours after the prescription is issued.

3. (3) A prescription drug order for a schedule II (C-II) controlled substance written for a patient in a Long Term Care Facility (LTCF), a hospice patient, or for a patient with a medical diagnosis documenting a terminal illness may be filled in partial quantities.

   1. (a) If there is any question whether a patient may be classified as having a terminal illness (TI), the pharmacist must contact the prescribing practitioner prior to partially filling the prescription drug order. The pharmacist must record on the prescription drug order whether the patient is "terminally ill," a "hospice patient," or a "LTCF patient."
   2. (b) A prescription drug order may not be partially filled unless it contains the notation "terminally ill," "hospice patient," or "LTCF patient," or it shall be deemed an unlawful prescription drug order.
   3. (c) For each partial filling, the dispensing pharmacist shall record on the back of the prescription drug order (or on another appropriate record, uniformly maintained, and readily retrievable) the date of the partial filling, quantity dispensed, remaining quantity authorized to be dispensed, and the identification of the dispensing pharmacist.
   4. (d) The total quantity of a schedule II (C-II) controlled substance dispensed in all partial fillings may not exceed the total quantity prescribed. Such C-II prescription drug orders may be partially filled for a period not to exceed 60 days from the dispensing date or sooner if the medication is discontinued.

4. (4) Information pertaining to current schedule II (C-II) prescription drug orders for patients in a LTCF, a hospice, or for terminally ill patients may also be maintained in a computerized system if this system has the capability to permit the following:

   1. (a) Output (display or printout) of the original prescription drug order serial number, date of dispensing, identification by name of the prescribing practitioner, identification by name of the patient, address of the LTCF, hospice, the hospital, or residence of the patient, identification of the medication dispensed to include, dosage, form, strength, and quantity, listing of the partial fillings that have been dispensed under each prescription drug order, and the information required in this rule.
   2. (b) Immediate updating of the prescription drug record each time a partial filling is conducted.
   3. (c) Retrieval of partially filled C-II prescription drug order information is the same as required by Rule 480-22-.09 for Schedule III and IV prescription refill information.

Authority: O.C.G.A. §§ 16-13-34, 16-13-39, 16-13-41, 26-4-27, 26-4-80, 26-4-83.

History. Original Rule entitled "Partial Filling of a Schedule II (C-II) Controlled Substance Prescription Drug Order" adopted. F. July 24, 2002; eff. August 13, 2002.

Amended: F. Dec. 12, 2024; eff. Jan. 1, 2025.