I’m running out of meds while out of town. Can a Texas doctor transfer my prescription?
Going out of town is supposed to be relaxing, but sometimes even the smallest inconvenience can cause stress.
Like discovering you’ve run out of a daily prescription while on a long term trip, for example.
This was the recent dilemma of a Texan.
“I live in Texas but am visiting Kansas for the next few weeks. I take Adderall XR daily and my prescription will run out while I’m here,” a Reddit user posted. “Anyone know if it is possible to have my Texas psychiatrist send a prescription to a pharmacy in Kansas? Google is giving me like 60 pages of legal documents that are overwhelming my ADHD brain.”
The simple answer is yes, prescriptions can be transferred to out-of-state pharmacies but only once, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
In 2023, the DEA announced that retail pharmacies registered with the DEA can transfer an electronic prescription for a controlled substance (schedules II–V) to another DEA-registered retail pharmacy upon the patient’s request.
In accordance with the regulation, a prescription can only be transferred between pharmacies if allowed under existing state or other applicable laws where the person is.
The prescription cannot be changed in any way. It must be transferred directly between two registered pharmacists, and it must stay in electronic format, the DEA said in a press release.
There are exceptions to the rule; however, a pharmacist can dispense a Schedule II controlled substance with the oral consent of a prescribing practitioner in an emergency.
Under the exception the pharmacist can only prescribe or dispense the amount necessary to treat the patient during the emergency time.
According to medical security card company Well Rx, patients seeking a prescription refill or transfer should be aware that their physician may want to schedule an appointment beforehand.
Here are a few steps that you can take to get a prescription refill transferred while out of state:
Go to the same pharmacy
There is no need for a transfer if you fill your prescription at another location within the same network of pharmacies. If you utilize a chain drugstore like Walmart or CVS while you’re away from home, go for a store that’s close by.
Ask ahead of time
You can make preparations in advance if, while packing for a trip, you discover that your medication will run out while you’re away. Make a phone call to your physician and request that they write you a medicine order, which is essentially a printed copy of your medications, to bring on your trip.
Make travel plans
Your prescription will not be valid if you travel outside the United States. When traveling outside the nation, you need to be very careful to plan beforehand. You won’t be able to acquire a prescription if you run out of medication, so be sure you carry enough for the duration of the trip.
Examine Your Insurance Network for Pharmacies
Always look for a pharmacy in your network while filling a prescription in a different state. If not, the expense will need to be covered out of your own money.
This story was originally published July 22, 2024 at 4:55 PM.
