Rule 480-22-.12 - Requirements of Prescription Drug Orders as Issued by a Physician's Assistant (PA), or an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Licensed to Practice in the State of Georgia(1) Under O.C.G.A. § 43-34-103(e.1), a physician assistant (PA) licensed by the Georgia Composite Medical Board is permitted to issue a prescription drug order or orders for any dangerous drugs, as defined in O.C.G.A. § 16-13-71, or for any Schedule III, IV, or V controlled substance without the co-signature of a supervising physician under the following conditions: (a) The supervising physician has delegated the authority to prescribe dangerous drugs and/or controlled substances in the PA's job description on file with the Georgia Composite Medical Board.(b) If the prescription is for controlled substances, the PA has a DEA number.(c) If the prescription is a hard-copy of an electronic visual image prescription drug order given directly to the patient or his/her agent, the hard copy must be printed on security paper with the wording that indicates the signature was electronically generated.(d) The prescription drug order must include the following:(i) The name, address, and telephone number of the supervising physician and the PA;(ii) The patient's name and address;(iii) The drug name, strength and quantity prescribed;(iv) The directions to the patient with regard to taking the drug;(v) The number of authorized refills, if any; and(vi) If applicable, the DEA permit number of the PA.(e) If the prescription is transmitted by facsimile or computer, the prescription shall include:(i) The complete name and address of the supervising physician and the PA;(ii) In the case of a prescription drug order for a controlled substance, the DEA registration number of the PA;(iii) The telephone number of the PA for verbal confirmation;(iv) The name and address of the patient;(v) The time and date of the transmission;(vi) The full name of the person transmitting the order;(vii) The drug name, strength and quantity prescribed;(viii) The directions to the patient with regard to taking the drug;(ix) The number of authorized refills, if any; and(x) The signature of the PA as provided in Rule 480-27-.02(2) or, in the case of a controlled substances prescription, in accordance with 21 C.F.R. 1301.22.(f) No prescription drug order issued by a PA can be used to authorize refills more than twelve (12) months past the date of the original drug order.(2) Under O.C.G.A. § 43-34-25, an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who is recognized by the Georgia Board of Nursing as having met the requirements to engage in advanced nursing practice, and whose registered nurse license and advanced practice registered nurse license are in good standing with the Georgia Board of Nursing, is permitted to issue a prescription drug order or orders for any dangerous drugs, O.C.G.A. § 16-13-71except for drugs intended to cause an abortion to occur pharmacologically, or for any Schedule III, IV, or V controlled substance without the co-signature of a delegating physician under the following conditions:(a) The APRN has been delegated the authority to issue prescription for the dangerous drugs and controlled substances by a physician licensed by the Georgia Composite Medical Board in a nurse protocol agreement and that agreement has been filed with the Georgia Composite Medical Board.(b) If the prescription is for controlled substances, the APRN has a DEA number.(c) If the prescription is a hard-copy of an electronic visual image prescription drug order given directly to the patient or his/her agent, the hard copy must be printed on security paper with the wording that indicates the signature was electronically generated.(d) The prescription drug order must include the following:(i) The name, address, and telephone number of the delegating physician and the APRN;(ii) The patient's name and address;(iii) The drug name, strength and quantity prescribed;(iv) The directions to the patient with regard to taking the drug;(v) The number of authorized refills, if any; and(vi) If applicable, the DEA permit number of the APRN.(e) If the prescription is transmitted by facsimile or computer, the prescription shall include:(i) The complete name and address of the delegating physician and the APRN;(ii) In the case of a prescription drug order for a controlled substance, the DEA registration number of the APRN;(iii) The telephone number of the APRN for verbal confirmation;(iv) The name and address of the patient;(v) The time and date of the transmission;(vi) The full name of the person transmitting the order;(vii) The drug name, strength and quantity prescribed;(viii) The directions to the patient with regard to taking the drug;(ix) The number of authorized refills, if any; and(x) The signature of the APRN as provided in Rule 480-27-.02(2) or, in the case of a controlled substances prescription, in accordance with 21 C.F.R. 1301.22.(f) No prescription drug order issued by an APRN can be used to authorize refills more than twelve (12) months past the date of the original drug order unless the prescription drug order is for oral contraceptives, hormone replacement, or prenatal vitamins. Oral contraceptives, hormone replacement and prenatal vitamins may be refilled up to twenty-four (24) months from the date of the original drug order.(3) Nothing in this Rule, Title 16, Chapter 13 or Title 43, Chapter 34, shall be construed to create a presumption of liability, either civil or criminal, on the part of a pharmacist who in good faith fills a prescription drug order presented by a patient that had been issued by a PA or an APRN consistent with this Rule. (a) A pharmacist shall presume that a prescription drug order issued by a PA or APRN was issued by a PA or APRN duly licensed and qualified under Title 43, Chapter 34 to prescribe pharmaceutical agents.(b) A pharmacist shall presume that the drug prescribed by the PA is a drug approved by the supervising physician in the PA's job description and that the drug prescribed by an APRN is a drug authorized by the delegating physician in the APRN's nurse protocol agreement, unless the pharmacist has actual or constructive knowledge to the contrary.(4) Any prescription drug order form containing less information than that described in this Rule shall not be offered to or accepted by any pharmacist.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 480-22-.12
O.C.G.A. §§ 16-13-21, 16-13-41, 16-13-70.1, 16-13-72, 26-4-5, 26-4-27, 26-4-28, 26-4-80, 43-34-25, 43-34-103, 21 C.F.R. 1301.22, 45 C.F.R. Part 162 .
Original Rule entitled "Requirements of Controlled Substance and Dangerous Drug Prescription Drug Orders as Carried Out By a Physician's Assistant (PA) Licensed to Practice in the State of Georgia" adopted. F. July 24, 2002; eff. August 13, 2002.Amended: Rule retitled "Requirements of Prescription Drug Orders as Issued by a Physician's Assistant (PA) or an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Licensed to Practice in the State of Georgia" adopted. F. Nov. 14, 2007; eff. Dec. 4, 2007.Amended: F. Nov. 29, 2011; eff. Dec. 19, 2011.Amended: F. July 27, 2015; eff. August 16, 2015.Amended: F. May 20, 2023; eff. June 9, 2023.