Under DEA guidelines, prescriptions written or authorized on or before the date of death of a prescriber or surrender of a DEA registration are...

Under DEA guidelines, prescriptions written or authorized on or before the date of death of a prescriber or surrender of a DEA registration are...

• A. invalid and cannot be filled.
• B. valid and may be filled or refilled as deemed medically necessary by the dispensing pharmacist.
• C. subject to immediate state regulator approval.
• D. to be voided after one year.

Answer: (B)

When a prescriber dies or surrenders their DEA registration, the prescriptions they already issued remain usable to prevent gaps in patient care. The dispensing pharmacist may fill or provide refills as medically necessary, within the original prescription terms and applicable law. This gives the pharmacist the professional latitude to continue treatment for the patient rather than discarding the prescription or requiring immediate regulator involvement. It isn’t about invalidating the prescription, nor is it mandated that state regulators step in right away, and it isn’t a fixed rule that it must be void after a year. The key idea is that ongoing therapy can be completed as needed under the pharmacist’s clinical judgment.

When a prescriber dies or surrenders their DEA registration, the prescriptions they already issued remain usable to prevent gaps in patient care. The dispensing pharmacist may fill or provide refills as medically necessary, within the original prescription terms and applicable law. This gives the pharmacist the professional latitude to continue treatment for the patient rather than discarding the prescription or requiring immediate regulator involvement. It isn’t about invalidating the prescription, nor is it mandated that state regulators step in right away, and it isn’t a fixed rule that it must be void after a year. The key idea is that ongoing therapy can be completed as needed under the pharmacist’s clinical judgment.