N.J. Admin. Code § 13:35-7.2

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 13:35-7.2 - Requirements for issuing written prescriptions for medicines

(a) A practitioner, acting within the scope of lawful practice and after an examination or evaluation of the patient's condition, may issue a written prescription for a drug to a patient, guardian or authorized representative in the form authorized by this section. The practitioner shall assure that appropriate follow-up is provided and that the effects of the drug are properly evaluated and integrated into the treatment plan for the patient.

(b) (Reserved)

(c) Written prescriptions shall be issued only on New Jersey Prescription Blanks (NJPB), secured from an approved vendor and subject to the required security mandates of the prescription blank program.

(d) A practitioner shall include the following information on each written prescription:

1. The prescribing practitioner's full name, address, telephone number, license number, and proper academic degree or identification of professional practice for which licensed;

2. The full name, age and address of the patient;

3. The date of issuance;

4. The name, strength and quantity of the drug prescribed;

5. Words, in addition to numbers, to indicate the drug quantity authorized if the prescription is for a Schedule II controlled substance, for example: ten (10) Percodan; or five (5) Ritalin 5 mg;

6. The number of refills permitted or time limit for refills, or both;

7. The handwritten original signature of the prescribing practitioner;

8. An explicit indication, by initials placed next to "do not substitute" (see (e) below), if it is the prescribing practitioner's intention that a specified brand name drug be dispensed;

9. The prescribing practitioner's D.E.A. number, if the drug is a controlled substance; and

10. Adequate instruction for the patient as to frequency; a direction of "p.r.n." or "if needed" alone may be used if appropriate.

(e) A prescribing practitioner shall advise each patient by adequate notice, for example, by a sign or pamphlet in the waiting room of the office, that the patient may request the practitioner to substitute a generic drug for any brand name drug prescribed.

(f) Each practitioner shall use only written prescription blanks which shall be imprinted with the words "substitution permissible" and "do not substitute," with a space for the prescribing practitioner's initials next to the chosen option, and which shall not include preprinted information designed to discourage or prohibit substitution.

(g) When using health care facility or multi-prescriber prescription blanks, the full name and license number of the prescribing practitioner shall be legibly printed at the top of the prescription or the identity of the prescriber shall be designated by a checkmark or other legible means.

(h) Each prescription for a controlled substance shall be written on a separate NJPB.

1. An NJPB that contains prescriptions for two or more controlled substances shall be invalid.

2. An NJPB that contains a prescription for only one controlled substance and contains other prescription(s) other than another controlled substance shall be valid.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:35-7.2

Amended by R.2000 d.400, effective 10/2/2000.
See: 31 New Jersey Register 2454(a), 32 New Jersey Register 3576(a).
Inserted a new (c), and recodified former (c) as (d); in the new (d), inserted ", license number," following "telephone number" in 1; recodified former (d) through (f) as (e) and (g); rewrote the new (g); and added (h).
Amended by R.2005 d.120, effective 4/18/2005.
See: 36 New Jersey Register 4633(a), 37 New Jersey Register 1203(a).
In (h), added 1 and 2.