Alabama Administrative Code
Title 540 - ALABAMA BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS
Chapter 540-X-7 - ASSISTANTS TO PHYSICIANS
Section 540-X-7-.28 - Prescriptions And Medication Orders - Physician Assistants (P.A.)

(1) A physician assistant may prescribe a legend drug to a patient subject to both of the following conditions being met:

(2) Subject to any limitations stated in protocols and medical regimens adopted by the Board and subject to any limitations by the supervising physician in the approved formulary, a physician assistant may prescribe any drug, substance or compound which is listed in Schedules III through V of the Alabama Uniform Controlled Substances Act upon being granted a Qualified Alabama Controlled Substances Certificate (QACSC) and upon submission of an approved QACSC formulary.

(3) The supervising physician and the physician assistant shall adhere to and follow all requirements and procedures stated in written guidelines established by the Board to govern the prescribing practices of physician assistants.

(4) A physician assistant who is registered to a physician with prescriptive privileges shall not engage in prescribing for:

(5) A physician assistant may not initiate a call-in prescription in the name of the supervising physician for any drug which the assistant is not authorized to prescribe unless the drug is specifically ordered for the patient by the supervising physician either in writing or by a verbal order reduced to writing and signed within seven (7) working days of the date of the prescription.

(6) For any drug which the physician assistant is authorized to prescribe, a written prescription signed by the physician assistant and entered into the patient's chart may be called-in to a pharmacy.

(7) Whenever a physician assistant calls in a prescription to a pharmacy, the physician assistant shall identify his or her supervising physician.

(8) A physician assistant may administer any legend drug or controlled drug which the assistant is authorized to prescribe.

(9) When prescribing legend drugs or controlled drugs a physician assistant shall use a prescription form which includes all of the following:

(10) For inpatients and nursing home patients, a physician assistant may enter a verbal order from the supervising physician for controlled substances or other medications which the assistant is not authorized to prescribe, provided that the order is co-signed by the supervising physician in accordance with established guidelines and institutional policies.