OAR 847-050-0041: Prescribing and Dispensing Privileges

(1) A physician associate registered prior to July 12, 1984, who does not possess the qualifications of OAR 847-050-0020 may retain all practice privileges which have been granted prior to July 12, 1984. Under these conditions, a physician associate may issue written, electronic or oral prescriptions for Schedule III-V medications, based on the physician associate's education, training, experience, and commensurate with the collaboration agreement, if the physician associate has passed a specialty examination approved by the Board prior to July 12, 1984, and the following conditions are met: (a) The physician associate has passed the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE); and (b) The physician associate has documented adequate education or experience in pharmacology commensurate with the collaboration agreement. (2) A physician associate may issue written, electronic, or oral prescriptions for Schedule III-V medications, based on the physician associate's education, training, experience, and commensurate with the collaboration agreement. (3) A physician associate may issue written or electronic prescriptions or emergency oral prescriptions followed by a written authorization for Schedule II medications if the requirements in section (1) or (2) of this rule are fulfilled and if the physician associate is currently certified by the National Commission for the Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). (4) All prescriptions given whether written, electronic, or oral must include the name, office address, and telephone number of the physician associate. The prescription must also bear the name of the patient and the date on which the prescription was written, except as provided in OAR 847-015-0050 for expedited partner therapy for sexually transmitted disease. The physician associate must sign the prescription and the signature must be followed by the letters "PA" Also the physician associate's Federal Drug Enforcement Administration number must be shown on prescriptions for controlled substances. (5) A physician associate may register with the Board to dispense drugs commensurate with the collaboration agreement and the physician associate’s prescriptive authority. (a) If the facility where the physician associate will dispense medications serves population groups federally designated as underserved, geographic areas federally designated as health professional shortage areas or medically underserved areas, or areas designated as medically disadvantaged and in need of primary health care providers as designated by the State, the application must include: (A) Location of the practice site; (B) Accessibility to the nearest pharmacy; and (C) Medical necessity for dispensing. (b) If the facility where the physician associate will be dispensing medications is not in one of the designated areas or populations described in subsection (5)(a) of this rule, the physician associate may not dispense Schedule I through II controlled substances. (6) A physician associate with dispensing authority must: (a) Dispense medications personally, except that nonjudgmental dispensing functions may be delegated to staff assistants when the accuracy and completeness of the prescription is verified by the physician associate; (b) Maintain records of the receipt and distribution of prescription drugs and the records must be readily accessible for inspection by the Board upon request; (c) Dispense only medications that are pre-packaged by a licensed pharmacist, manufacturing drug outlet or wholesale drug outlet authorized to do so under ORS 689; (d) Label dispensed prescription drugs in compliance with the requirements of ORS 677.089(3); (e) Dispense prescription drugs in containers complying with the federal Poison Prevention Packaging Act unless the patient requests a noncomplying container; and (f) Register with the Drug Enforcement Administration and maintain a controlled substances log as required in OAR 847-015-0015. (7) Distribution of samples, without charge, is not dispensing under this rule. Administering drugs in the facility is not dispensing under this rule. Distribution of samples and administration of drugs must be documented in the patient record. Documentation must include the name of the drug, the dose, the quantity distributed or administered, and the directions for use if applicable. (8) Failure to comply with any section of this rule is a violation of the ORS Chapter 677 and is grounds for a $195 fine. The licensee may be subject to further disciplinary action by the Board.