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Title: Section 80.131 - Prescription, sale and possession of hypodermic syringes and hypodermic needles

Effective Date

10/09/2013

80.131 Prescription, sale and possession of hypodermic syringes and hypodermic needles.

(a) For purposes of this section, "prescription" shall have the same meaning as provided in section 3302 of the public health law, as supplemented by the meaning provided in section 3381 of the public health law. It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or furnish, to any other person or persons, or to possess, a hypodermic syringe, hypodermic needle, or a hypodermic syringe or hypodermic needle pre-filled with a non-controlled substance, except:

(1) pursuant to a prescription; or

(2) such sale, furnishing or possession has been authorized by the commissioner; or

(3) pursuant to Section 80.137 of this Part.

(b) Subject to the provisions of this section, a practitioner may orally prescribe or authorize a refill, and an employee of the prescribing practitioner, or a health care professional in a Residential Health Care Facility (RHCF) who is licensed by the state education department pursuant to the education law, may orally communicate a prescription or refill for, one or more hypodermic syringes or hypodermic needles. Subject to the provisions this section, a pharmacist may dispense, to an ultimate user, such hypodermic syringes or hypodermic needles; provided, however, the pharmacist shall:

(1) contemporaneously reduce such oral prescription to a written or electronic memorandum indicating the name, address and telephone number of the prescriber, the name, address, and age of the ultimate user, date on which the hypodermic syringe or hypodermic needle was ordered, quantity prescribed, directions for use, the name and strength of the drug, if applicable, number of refills authorized, the signature or readily identifiable initials of the pharmacist accepting the oral memorandum and documenting the fact that it is a telephone order;

(2) indicate on the memoranda the date filled and the number of the prescription under which it is recorded in the pharmacy prescription file, and sign or electronically sign the memorandum; and

(3) make a good faith effort to verify the identity of the practitioner and the practitioner's employee or RHCF professional, if applicable, and the ultimate user, if not known to the pharmacist.

(c) A prescription for one or more hypodermic syringes or hypodermic needles shall include:

(1) the name, address and age of the ultimate user;

(2) the name, address, telephone number and signature or electronic signature of the practitioner;

(3) the date on which it was issued; and

(4) the name, and strength of the drug, if applicable, the directions for use, the quantity of the hypodermic syringes or hypodermic needles prescribed, and the number of authorized refills.

(d) Any pharmacist selling or furnishing a hypodermic syringe or hypodermic needle pursuant to a prescription shall record upon the prescription, his or her signature or, as applicable, electronic signature, and the date of the sale or furnishing of the hypodermic syringe or hypodermic needle. Prescriptions and oral prescription memorandums shall be retained on file for a period of five years and be readily accessible for inspection by any public officer or employee engaged in the enforcement of this section. A prescription may be refilled not more than the number of times specifically authorized by the prescriber upon the prescription; provided, however, no such authorization shall be effective for a period longer than two years from the date the prescription is signed.

(e) A pharmacist receiving an oral authorization for the refill of a prescription for one or more hypodermic syringes or hypodermic needles shall enter on the original prescription or electronic record maintained on an electronic data processing system, the date, time, and name of the authorizing practitioner and the name of the practitioner’s employee or RHCF professional, if applicable, and shall sign or electronically sign such record.

(f) Pharmacists at registered pharmacies may, at the express request and approval of a patient or a person authorized to act on behalf of the patient, and subject to the requirements of 8 NYCRR Section 63.6(8), transfer information relating to a prescription for one or more hypodermic syringes or hypodermic needles, including a prescription for one or more hypodermic syringes or hypodermic needles pre-filled with a non-controlled substance, or accept a transfer of such information from another registered pharmacy or a pharmacy authorized to do business in another jurisdiction for the exclusive purpose of providing one authorized refill per transfer.

(g) Any prescription for one or more hypodermic syringes or hypodermic needles prefilled with a controlled substance shall be issued and dispensed according to the requirements as set forth in 80.67, 80.68, 80.69, 80.70, 80.73 and 80.74 of this Part.

Volume

VOLUME A-1a (Title 10)

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