10. A physician assistant may order, prescribe, dispense, and administer medications and medical devices and issue written instructions to registered qualifying patients for medical cannabis to the extent delegated by a supervising physician.

a. Controlled dangerous substances may only be ordered or prescribed if:

(1) a supervising physician has authorized a physician assistant to order or prescribe Schedule II, III, IV, or V controlled dangerous substances in order to:

(a) continue or reissue an order or prescription for a controlled dangerous substance issued by the supervising physician;

(b) otherwise adjust the dosage of an order or prescription for a controlled dangerous substance originally ordered or prescribed by the supervising physician, provided there is prior consultation with the supervising physician;

(c) initiate an order or prescription for a controlled dangerous substance for a patient, provided there is prior consultation with the supervising physician if the order or prescription is not pursuant to subparagraph (d) of this paragraph; or

(d) initiate an order or prescription for a controlled dangerous substance as part of a treatment plan for a patient with a terminal illness, which for the purposes of this subparagraph means a medical condition that results in a patient’s life expectancy being 12 months or less as determined by the supervising physician;

(2) the physician assistant has registered with, and obtained authorization to order or prescribe controlled dangerous substances from, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and any other appropriate State and federal agencies; and

(3) the physician assistant complies with all requirements which the board shall establish by regulation for the ordering, prescription, or administration of controlled dangerous substances, all applicable educational program requirements, and continuing professional education programs approved pursuant to section 16 of P.L.1991, c.378 (C. 45:9-27.25).

b. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2015, c.224)

c. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2015, c.224)

d. In the case of an order or prescription for a controlled dangerous substance or written instructions for medical cannabis, the physician assistant shall print on the order or prescription or the written instructions the physician assistant’s Drug Enforcement Administration registration number.

e. The dispensing of medication or a medical device by a physician assistant shall comply with relevant federal and State regulations, and shall occur only if: (1) pharmacy services are not reasonably available; (2) it is in the best interest of the patient; or (3) the physician assistant is rendering emergency medical assistance.

f. A physician assistant may request, receive, and sign for prescription drug samples and may distribute those samples to patients.

g. A physician assistant may issue written instructions to a registered qualifying patient for medical cannabis pursuant to section 10 of P.L.2009, c.307 (C. 24:6I-10) only if:

(1) a supervising physician has authorized the physician assistant to issue written instructions to registered qualifying patients;

(2) the physician assistant verifies the patient’s status as a registered qualifying patient; and

(3) the physician assistant complies with the requirements for issuing written instructions for medical cannabis established pursuant to P.L.2009, c.307 (C. 24:6I-1 et al.).

L.1991, c.378, s.10; amended 1998, c.125, s.3; 2005, c.48; 2015, c.224, s.7; 2019, c.153, s.46.