12 AAC 52.585. Mandatory patient counseling

(a) With each new prescription dispensed, the pharmacist shall verbally provide counseling to the patient or the patient's agent on matters considered significant in the pharmacist's professional judgment. The counseling may include

(1) the name and description of the prescribed drug;

(2) the dosage and the dosage form;

(3) the method and route of administration;

(4) the duration of the prescribed drug therapy;

(5) any special directions and precautions for preparation, administration, and use by the patient that the pharmacist determines are necessary;

(6) common severe side or adverse effects or interactions and therapeutic contraindications that may be encountered, how to avoid them, and what actions should be taken if they occur;

(7) patient techniques for self-monitoring of the drug therapy;

(8) proper storage;

(9) prescription refill information; and

(10) the action to be taken in the event of a missed dose.

(b) A pharmacist shall counsel the patient or the patient's agent face-to-face. If face-to-face counseling is not possible, a pharmacist shall make a reasonable effort to provide the counseling by use of a telephone, two-way radio, or in writing. In place of a pharmacist's own written information regarding a prescribed drug, the pharmacist may use abstracts of the Patient United States Pharmacopoeia Drug Information or comparable information.

(c) This section does not apply to a pharmacist who dispenses drugs for inpatient use in a hospital or other institution if the drug is to be administered by a nurse or other appropriate health care provider.

(d) This section does not require a pharmacist to provide patient counseling when a patient or the patient's caregiver refuses the counseling.

History: Eff. 1/16/98, Register 145; am 5/15/2004, Register 170

Authority: AS 08.80.005

AS 08.80.030

AS 08.80.480

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