West Virginia MPJE (Pharmacy Jurisprudence) Practice Exam

What should you do if the original prescription for an emergency CII fill is not received from the prescriber?

1. Cancel the prescription

2. Void the prescription

3. Report the breach to the local DEA office

4. Re-fill the prescription

The correct answer is: Cancel the prescription

In the case of an emergency CII prescription, federal regulations allow a pharmacist to dispense a supply of a controlled substance without the original prescription if certain criteria are met. However, the law requires that the original written prescription must be delivered to the pharmacy within seven days after the emergency fill. If the original prescription is not received within this time frame, it is necessary to cancel the prescription because there would be no valid prescription supporting the dispensation of the controlled substance. Continuing to fill or refilling the prescription without the original documentation could lead to violations of both state and federal regulations, putting the pharmacist and the pharmacy at risk for legal and disciplinary action. As a best practice, notifying the prescriber about the missing original prescription can also be an important step. This communicates the issue and allows for a resolution, but the cancellation of the prescription is the correct course of action when the original is not received in the designated time frame.