A patient, Marisol Quintero, presents a written prescription for oxycodone immediate-release 5 mg, quantity 60, signed by Dr Aimee Voss. The patient asks the technician to fill only 20 tablets today because she cannot afford the full quantity, and to receive the balance later. What is the technician's BEST action under federal law?
- ADispense the partial quantity of 20 tablets and supply the remaining 40 tablets within 30 days of the prescription date. Correct
- BDispense the partial quantity of 20 tablets and supply the balance only within 72 hours, after which the remainder is void.
- CRefuse the partial fill because Schedule II prescriptions must be dispensed in full or returned to the patient.
- DDispense 20 tablets now and add five refills so the patient may collect the remaining tablets as needed.
Why A is correct: Correct: federal law permits partial filling of a Schedule II prescription at the patient's request, and the remaining quantity may be supplied within 30 days of the date the prescription was written.
Why B is wrong: Tempting because the 72-hour limit is a genuine Schedule II partial-fill provision, but under current federal law a partial fill requested by the patient must be completed within 30 days of the written date, so the shorter 72-hour deadline is not the operative rule for this patient-requested partial.
Why C is wrong: Tempting because Schedule II carries no refills, but partial filling at the patient's request is expressly permitted, so an outright refusal is not required.
Why D is wrong: Tempting because refills feel like a way to spread out collection, but Schedule II prescriptions may not be refilled at all, so authorising refills is unlawful.