What information should you review if you find a prescription using the prescription number?

Your health care provider may give you a prescription in different ways, including:

Inhaltsverzeichnis Show

Prescribing of drugs of dependence?
What to include on prescriptions?
What is an authority?
When do I need an authority?4
How do I get an authority?
Can I prescribe a drug of dependence for the purpose of treating drug dependence?
Define drug dependence?
What is drug diversion?
Are there circumstances in which I am exempt from requiring an authority?5
What are the legal ramifications if I do not obtain an authority or do not prescribe in accordance with an authority?
S18A application for authority forms

Writing a paper prescription that you take to a local pharmacy
Calling or e-mailing a pharmacy to order the medicine
Sending your prescription to the pharmacy by way of a computer that is linked to the provider's electronic medical record (EMR)

You also need to find out if your health plan will pay for the medicine your provider prescribed.

Certain types or brands of medicine may not be covered.
Many health plans require you to pay the pharmacy a portion of the cost of the prescription price. This called a co-pay.

Once you get a prescription from your provider, you may buy the medicine in different ways.

LOCAL PHARMACIES

The most common place for filling a prescription is at a local pharmacy. Some pharmacies are located inside of a grocery or large "chain" store.

It is best to fill all prescriptions with the same pharmacy. That way, the pharmacy has a record of all the medicines you are taking. This helps prevent drug interactions.

Your health plan may require you to use certain pharmacies. This means they may not pay for your prescription if you do not use one of these pharmacies. To find a pharmacy that takes your health plan:

Call the phone number on the back of your insurance card.
Call the pharmacy you want to use to see if they have a contract with your insurance plan.

To help the pharmacist fill the prescription:

Make sure all of the information is filled in clearly.
Bring your insurance card the first time you fill the prescription.
When calling the pharmacy for a refill, make sure to give your name, the prescription number, and the name of the medicine.

MAIL-ORDER PHARMACIES

Some people and insurance companies choose to use mail-order pharmacies.

The prescription is sent to the mail-order pharmacy or phoned in by the provider.
Your medicine may cost less when you order it by mail. However, it may take a week or more for the medicine to get to you.
Mail order is best used for long-term medicines you use for chronic problems.
Buy short-term medicines and drugs that need to be stored at certain temperatures at a local pharmacy.

INTERNET (ONLINE) PHARMACIES

Internet pharmacies can be used for long-term medicines and medical supplies.

The website should have clear directions for filling or transferring your prescription.
Make sure that the website has clearly-stated privacy policies and other procedures.
AVOID any website that claims a doctor can prescribe the medicine without seeing you.

Prescriptions - how to fill; Medications - how to get prescription filled; Drugs - how to get prescription filled; Pharmacy - mail order; Pharmacy - internet; Types of pharmacies

Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

The prescription and supply of drugs of dependence in South Australia is regulated under the Controlled Substances Act 1984 and Controlled Substances (Poisons) Regulations 2011.

Regulation aims to minimise the induction of drug dependence, abuse or diversion of prescribed drugs for non-medical purposes through the granting and revocation of authorities to prescribe drugs of dependence.

Prescribing of drugs of dependence?

A prescriber must not (unless an emergency exists) prescribe or supply a drug of dependence in the following situations:1

having not first examined the patient or animal and determined that it is clinically necessary
for self- treatment
for the treatment of their spouse or other family member unless authorised by the Minister
for the purpose maintaining or treating drug dependence unless authorised by the Minister

Prescriptions for drugs of dependence are valid for a maximum period of six months from the date of prescribing.2

What to include on prescriptions?

Prescriptions must include3:

prescriber name, address, telephone number and signature
date on which the prescription is written
patients full name and address
patient’s date of birth
the quantity to be supplied in words and numerals
in the case of veterinary prescriptions to treat an animal; the species of animal, name if applicable, and the name and address of the owner of the animal

In addition to the above, Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Dependence (MATOD) prescriptions should also include the:

dose in milligrams, and for methadone, millilitres as well to minimise error,
doses to be administered under supervision
number of take away doses that may be provided each week
expiry date of the prescription. This date is the date after which no more drug can be supplied and should coincide with the date that the patient is to be reviewed
name of the pharmacy that can dispense the prescription

What is an authority?

An authority4 is a legal document granted by the Minister allowing prescribers to treat a particular patient with specified drugs of dependence; it is not intended to provide clinical endorsement of the treatment being prescribed, this is the responsibility of the prescriber.

An authority issued under section 18A of the Act stipulates the conditions under which prescribing of a drug of dependence must occur, including dosage and quantity. It is not the same as an authority issued by Medicare Australia that issues its authorities for the subsidy of medications under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Please refer to the PBS information line for more information on 1800 020 613.

When do I need an authority?4

It is an offence to prescribe or supply (including administering from the prescribers’ own supply), drugs of dependence for a patient for regular treatment exceeding two months without authority from the Minister.4

Treatment provided by other prescribers must be considered when calculating the two-month period.

Veterinary surgeons are not required to hold authorities to treat animal patients.

How do I get an authority?

Applications must be made to the Minister via the Drugs of Dependence Unit. Applications are to be made in writing only and signed by the applying prescriber.4

See below for a list of forms to apply or renew your authority.

Can I prescribe a drug of dependence for the purpose of treating drug dependence?

Treating drug dependence, be it illicit, licit or iatrogenic dependence, requires an authority from the Minister in the first instance; it is an offence to prescribe for this purpose without an authority for any period.4

Define drug dependence?

A person is drug dependent if he or she has acquired, as a result of the repeated administration of prescription drugs or controlled drugs, an overpowering desire for the continued administration of any such drugs and is likely to suffer mental or physical distress or disorder upon cessation of the administration of the drug; or has consumed prescribed drugs in a manner that presents a risk to that person’s health.

What is drug diversion?

Drug diversion is a term used to describe a significant and growing problem which involves the sale or supply of prescription drugs to persons to whom they are not prescribed. Prescription opioid drugs have significant “street value” and may be sold on the black market for illicit recreational use; they may also be traded for other drugs.

Are there circumstances in which I am exempt from requiring an authority?5

Yes. An authority is not required when prescribing or supplying a drug of dependence in the following circumstances:

a patient aged 70 years or more and the drug involved is not pethidine
a patient whose life expectancy is less than 12 months if the drug is not pethidine and the prescriber has informed the Minister of the patient’s name, address, date of birth and the nature of the condition for which the drug is prescribed. In these cases, the prescriber must endorse the prescription either “Notified Palliative Care Patient” or “NPCP”
an inpatient in a hospital or correctional institution where the duration of treatment with a drug of dependence does not exceed 14 days
a patient discharged from a hospital following an inpatient stay and the duration of treatment after discharge does not exceed 14 days

What are the legal ramifications if I do not obtain an authority or do not prescribe in accordance with an authority?

The prescription and supply of drugs of dependence are regulated to minimise harms associated with their use. There is growing evidence to suggest that prescription drug abuse is a significant public health issue with over 25% of deaths now linked to prescribed opioid drugs.6

The Drugs of Dependence Unit seeks the co-operation of prescribers when administering legislation and aims to work with prescribers to promote quality use of medicines principles.

In cases where this cannot be achieved, legislation determines penalties that may apply including Prohibition Orders that effectively remove the ability to handle certain drugs, notification to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), fines and imprisonment.