SENATE, No. 1793

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED JANUARY 23, 1997

By Senator EWING

An Act concerning New Jersey Prescription Blanks and amending P.L.1996, c.154.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. Section 2 of P.L.1996, c.154 (C.45:14-14.2) is amended to read as follows:

    2. a. Beginning 180 days after the effective date of P.L1996, c.154 (C.45:14-14.1 et seq.), a licensed prescriber shall use non-reproducible, non-erasable safety paper New Jersey Prescription Blanks bearing that prescriber's license number whenever the prescriber issues prescriptions for controlled dangerous substances, prescription legend drugs or other prescription items. Each prescription blank shall be used for the prescribing of only one drug. The prescription blanks shall be secured from a vendor approved by the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety.

     Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection to the contrary, the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs may temporarily suspend the operative date of this subsection if the director finds that an insufficient number of licensed prescribers have obtained the required prescription blanks by the operative date with the result that persons seeking to have prescriptions filled would be substantially inconvenienced. The director shall promptly notify the licensed prescribers of the new operative date of this subsection.

    b. A licensed prescriber shall maintain a record of the receipt of New Jersey Prescription Blanks. The prescriber shall notify the Office of Drug Control in the Division of Consumer Affairs as soon as possible but no later than 72 hours of being made aware that any New Jersey Prescription Blank in the prescriber's possession has been stolen. Upon receipt of notification, the Office of Drug Control shall take appropriate action, including notification to the Department of

Human Services and the Attorney General.

(cf: P.L.1996, c.154, s.2)

    2. Section 3 of P.L.1996, c.154 (C.45:14-14.3) is amended to read as follows:

    3. a. Beginning 180 days after the effective date of P.L.1996, c.154 (C.45:14-14.1 et seq.), prescriptions issued by a health care facility licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) shall be written on non-reproducible, non-erasable safety paper New Jersey Prescription Blanks. Each prescription blank shall be used for the prescribing of only one drug. The prescription blanks shall be secured from a vendor approved by the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety. The New Jersey Prescription Blanks shall bear the unique provider number assigned to that health care facility for the issuing of prescriptions for controlled dangerous substances, prescription legend drugs or other prescription items.

    Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection to the contrary, the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs may temporarily suspend the operative date of this subsection if the director finds that an insufficient number of licensed health care facilities have obtained the required prescription blanks by the operative date with the result that persons seeking to have prescriptions filled would be substantially inconvenienced. The director shall promptly notify the licensed health care facilities of the new operative date of this subsection.

    b. A health care facility shall maintain a record of the receipt of New Jersey Prescription Blanks. The health care facility shall notify the Office of Drug Control in the Division of Consumer Affairs as soon as possible but no later than 72 hours of being made aware that any New Jersey Prescription Blank in the facility's possession has been stolen. Upon receipt of notification, the Office of Drug Control shall take appropriate action, including notification to the Department of Human Services and the Attorney General.

(cf: P.L.1996, c.154, s. 3)

    3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill amends the law requiring the use of uniform New Jersey Prescription Blanks, P.L.1996, c.154 (C.45:14-14.1 et seq.), by specifying that each prescription blank shall be used for the prescribing of only one drug.

    By limiting each prescription blank to only one drug, this bill would eliminate the risk of error and the potential for fraud which can result when one blank is used for prescribing multiple drugs.

Requires use of a uniform New Jersey Prescription Blank for each drug prescribed.