(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a prescription may be refilled only upon the written, oral or electronically-transmitted order of a prescribing practitioner.

(b) A pharmacist may exercise his professional judgment in refilling a prescription that is not for a controlled drug, as defined in section 21a-240, without the authorization of the prescribing practitioner, provided (1) the pharmacist is unable to contact such practitioner after reasonable effort, (2) failure to refill the prescription might result in an interruption of a therapeutic regimen or create patient suffering, and (3) the pharmacist informs the patient or representative of the patient at the time of dispensing that the refill is being provided without such authorization and informs the practitioner at the earliest reasonable time that authorization of the practitioner is required for future refills. Prescriptions may be refilled once pursuant to this subsection for a quantity of drug not to exceed a seventy-two hour supply.

(c) Any prescription that is not for a controlled drug, as defined in section 21a-240, may be transferred orally or electronically between pharmacies, provided:

(1) The prescribing practitioner has authorized the original prescription to be refilled in accordance with subsection (a) of this section;

(2) The pharmacist transferring the prescription shall cancel the original prescription in such pharmacist's records and shall indicate in such records the name of the pharmacy to which the prescription is transferred and the date of the transfer, provided, such cancellation shall not be required in the case of any transfer between pharmacies which electronically access the same prescription records and utilize the same computer or other electronic prescription transfer system; and

(3) The pharmacist receiving the prescription shall indicate in such pharmacist's records, in addition to any other information required by law, (A) the fact that the prescription has been transferred and the names of the transferring pharmacy and pharmacist, (B) the date of issuance and the prescription number of the original prescription, (C) the date the original prescription was first dispensed, (D) the number of refills authorized by the original prescription and the complete refill record for the prescription as of the date of the transfer, and (E) the number of valid refills remaining as of the date of the transfer.

(P.A. 91-164, S. 1; P.A. 95-264, S. 38; P.A. 97-64, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 95-264 added new Subsec. (a) re refills, designated existing provisions as Subsec. (b) and made technical changes; Sec. 20-184d transferred to Sec. 20-616 in 1997; P.A. 97-64 made technical changes in Subsec. (b) and added Subsec. (c) re transfer of prescriptions.