This chapter is intended to implement RCW 69.50.311. The purpose of this chapter is to establish a triplicate prescription program participation which may be imposed by the appropriate disciplinary authority upon licensed health care practitioners with prescription or dispensing authority. Participation in this triplicate prescription program may be required of licensees as a part of disciplinary action or board-supervision of the licensee's practice. The determination as to whether to impose participation in this program upon a licensee shall be within the sole discretion of the disciplinary authority.

Any licensed health care practitioner upon whom participation in the triplicate prescription form program is imposed shall obtain official triplicate prescription forms from the Washington state department of health. The practitioner shall pay a fee for these forms that is equal to the cost to the department of the forms. The official triplicate prescriptions forms shall be utilized by the practitioner with respect to the drug or drugs specified by the disciplinary authority. The official triplicate prescriptions forms utilized in this program will be sequentially numbered. The practitioner shall account for all numbered prescriptions provided to him or her.

The triplicate prescriptions utilized pursuant to this program shall be retained as follows:

(1) The original prescription shall be provided to the patient unless the drug is dispensed or administered to the patient by the practitioner, or if an emergency prescription is issued. In instances where the drug is dispensed or administered, the provisions of WAC 246-800-140 shall apply. In the case of an emergency prescription, the provisions of WAC 246-800-150 shall apply;

(2) One copy shall be transmitted to the department. These copies shall be transmitted to the department monthly unless otherwise directed by the disciplinary authority;

(3) One copy shall be retained by the health care practitioner and shall be available for inspection by an authorized representative of the department.

(4) Any official triplicate prescription forms improperly completed, damaged or otherwise not utilized shall be accounted for by the practitioner. An explanation and accounting for the forms not properly utilized, along with any improperly completed or damaged triplicate prescriptions forms shall be returned to the department along with the other copies to be submitted pursuant to this rule.

A health care practitioner participating in the triplicate prescription program shall complete a prescription form for all drugs specified by the disciplinary authority. If the drugs are administered or dispensed to the patient, the original shall be transmitted to the department along with the copy as required by WAC 246-800-130.

In an emergency, unless prohibited by the order of the disciplinary authority, a practitioner participating in this program may orally prescribe and a pharmacist may dispense a drug specified by the disciplinary authority to be included in the triplicate prescription program. For the purposes of this rule, "emergency" means that the immediate provision of the drug is necessary for proper treatment, that no alternative treatment is available and it is not possible for the practitioner to provide a written prescription for the drug. If such a drug is orally prescribed, the practitioner shall:

(1) Contemporaneously reduce the prescription to writing;

(2) Cause the original of the written prescription to be delivered to the pharmacy filling the prescription within 72 hours; and,

(3) Retain and transmit copies of the prescription as provided in WAC 246-800-130.