Page 1 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Regular Session, 2014 ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 496
BY SENATOR HEITMEIER
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 40:978(A) and to enact R.S. 40:978(E) and (F), relative to2
prescriptions; to provide for the limited dispensing of certain controlled substances;3
to provide for accessing the Prescription Monitoring Program in certain situations;4
and to provide for related matters.5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6
Section 1. R.S. 40:978(A) is hereby amended and reenacted, and R.S. 40:978(E) and7
(F) are hereby enacted to read as follows: 8
ยง978. Prescriptions 9
A. Except when dispensed or administered directly by a medical practitioner10
or administered by a person authorized to administer by such practitioner, other than11
a pharmacist, to an ultimate user, no controlled dangerous substance included in12
Schedule II, which is a prescription drug as determined under the Louisiana Revised13
Statutes, of 1950, may be dispensed or administered without either the written14
prescription of a practitioner, or an electronic prescription order as provided by15
federal law or regulation, except that in emergency situations, as prescribed by the16
department by regulation, such drug may be dispensed or administered upon oral17
prescription reduced promptly to writing and filed by the pharmacist. Prescriptions18
shall be retained in conformity with the requirements of R.S. 40:976. No prescription19
for a Schedule II substance may be refilled nor may such prescription be filled20
more than ninety days after the date of the prescription.21
* * *22
E.(1) The pharmacist shall not dispense more than a ten-day supply at23
a dosage not to exceed the United States Food and Drug Administration's24
approved labeling for the medication if the prescriber for such medication is not25
licensed by the state of Louisiana, and the medication is an opiod derivative26
ACT No. 865 SB NO. 496 ENROLLED
Page 2 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Schedule II or an opiod derivative Schedule III controlled dangerous substance.1
The dispensing pharmacist shall notify the prescriber of the supply dispensed2
and the cancellation of the remainder of the prescription.3
(2) Within sixty days of the dispensing of a medication pursuant to4
Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, such a medication shall not be dispensed again5
for the individual by a prescriber not licensed by the state of Louisiana.6
F. A prescriber shall access the Prescription Monitoring Program prior7
to initially prescribing any Schedule II controlled dangerous substance to a8
patient for the treatment of non-cancer-related chronic or intractable pain.9
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED: