1. (1)(a) Counseling shall be offered orally and in person, unless the patient or patient's agent is not at the pharmacy or a specific communication barrier prohibits oral communication.

   1. (b) Counseling may be provided through a telepharmacy system.
2. (2) A pharmacy facility shall verbally offer the patient or patient's agent counseling as described in Subsection (1), but is not required to provide counseling to a patient or patient's agent who refuses counseling.

3. (3) Based upon the professional judgment of the pharmacist, pharmacy intern, or DMP, patient counseling may include the following elements:

   1. (a) the name and description of the prescription drug;
   2. (b) the dosage form, dose, route of administration and duration of drug therapy;
   3. (c) the intended use of the drug, when known, and expected action;
   4. (d) any special directions and precautions for preparation, administration and use by the patient;
   5. (e) any common severe side or adverse effects or interactions and therapeutic contraindications that may be encountered, including their avoidance, and the action required if they occur;
   6. (f) the techniques for self-monitoring drug therapy;
   7. (g) the proper storage;

   8. (h) the prescription refill information;

      1. (i) any action to be taken in the event of a missed dose;
   9. (j) any pharmacist comments relevant to the individual's drug therapy, including any other information specific to the patient or drug; and
   10. (k) the date after which the prescription should not be taken or used, or the beyond use date.

4. (4)(a) The offer to counsel shall be documented.

   1. (b) Any documentation shall be maintained for five years, and be available for inspection by the Division within seven to ten business days of the Division's request.
5. (5) Only a pharmacist, pharmacy intern, or DMP may orally provide counseling to a patient or patient's agent and answer questions concerning prescription drugs.

6. (6) If a prescription drug order is delivered to the patient or patient's agent or other designated location:

   1. (a) the information in Subsection (3) shall be delivered with the dispensed prescription in writing;
   2. (b) if prescriptions are routinely delivered outside the area covered by the pharmacy's local telephone service, the pharmacist shall place on the prescription container or on a separate sheet delivered with the prescription container, the telephone number of the pharmacy and the statement "Written information about this prescription has been provided for you. Please read this information before you take this medication. If you have questions concerning this prescription, a pharmacist is available during normal business hours to answer these questions."; and
   3. (c) the written information under Subsection (6)(b) shall be in the form of patient information leaflets similar to USP-NF patient information monographs or equivalent information.
7. (7) Patient counseling is not required for patients of a hospital or institution where other licensed health care professionals are authorized to administer the patient's drugs.

8. (8) A pharmacist or pharmacy intern who dispenses a self-administered hormonal contraceptive shall:

   1. (a) obtain a completed Utah Hormonal Contraceptive Self-Screening Risk Assessment Questionnaire which can be found on the Division's website at https://dopl.utah.gov/pharmacy/resources; and
   2. (b) provide any other written information and counseling as described in Section 26B-4-506.

Under Subsection 58-17b-601(1) and Section 58-17b-613, this section establishes guidelines for providing patient counseling.

KEY: pharmacists, licensing, pharmacies

Date of Last Change: August 8, 2025

Notice of Continuation: August 5, 2024

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 63G-3-201; 58-17b-101; 58-17b-601(1); 58-37-1; 58-1-106(1)(a); 58-1-202(1)(a)