Iowa Code 155A.29 – Prescription refills
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1. Except as specified in subsection 2, a prescription for any prescription drug or device which is not a controlled substance shall not be filled or refilled more than eighteen months after the date on which the prescription was issued and a prescription which is authorized to be refilled shall not be refilled more than twelve times.
Terms Used In Iowa Code 155A.29
- Authorized agent: means an individual designated by a practitioner who is under the supervision of the practitioner and for whom the practitioner assumes legal responsibility. See Iowa Code 155A.3
- Controlled substance: means a drug substance, immediate precursor, or other substance listed in subchapter II of chapter 124. See Iowa Code 155A.3
- Device: means a medical device, as classified by the United States food and drug administration, intended for use by a patient that is required by the United States food and drug administration to be ordered or prescribed for a patient by a practitioner. See Iowa Code 155A.3
- drug: means a drug, as classified by the United States food and drug administration, that is required by the United States food and drug administration to be prescribed or administered to a patient by a practitioner prior to dispensation. See Iowa Code 155A.3
- following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
- Pharmacist: means a person licensed by the board to practice pharmacy. See Iowa Code 155A.3
- Pharmacy: means a location where prescription drugs are compounded, dispensed, or sold by a pharmacist and where prescription drug orders are received or processed in accordance with the pharmacy laws. See Iowa Code 155A.3
- Practitioner: means a physician, dentist, podiatric physician, prescribing psychologist, veterinarian, optometrist, physician assistant, advanced registered nurse practitioner, or other person licensed or registered to prescribe, distribute, or dispense a prescription drug or device in the course of professional practice in this state or a person licensed by another state in a health field in which, under Iowa law, licensees in this state may legally prescribe drugs. See Iowa Code 155A.3
- Prescription drug order: means a written, electronic, or facsimile order from a practitioner or an oral order from a practitioner or the practitioner's authorized agent who communicates the practitioner's instructions for a prescription drug or device to be dispensed. See Iowa Code 155A.3
2. A pharmacist may exercise professional judgment by refilling a prescription without prescriber authorization if all of the following are true:
a. The pharmacist is unable to contact the prescriber after reasonable effort.
b. Failure to refill the prescription might result in an interruption of therapeutic regimen or create patient suffering.
c. The pharmacist informs the patient or the patient’s representative at the time of dispensing, and the practitioner at the earliest convenience that prescriber reauthorization is required.
3. Prescriptions may be refilled once pursuant to subsection 2 for a period of time reasonably necessary for the pharmacist to secure prescriber authorization.
4. An authorization to refill a prescription drug order shall be transmitted to a pharmacy by a prescriber or the prescriber’s authorized agent pursuant to section 155A.27, except that prescription drug orders for controlled substances shall be transmitted pursuant to section 124.308, and, if not transmitted directly by the practitioner, shall also include the name and title of the practitioner’s agent completing the transmission.