NJ S3840

Pharmacists may dispense up to a 30-day emergency supply of chronic maintenance medications without a valid prescription when the pharmacy has a prior prescription record, the prescriber cannot be reached, and the pharmacist determines withholding the drug would endanger the patient's health.

Controlled dangerous substances are excluded from emergency dispensing, and pharmacists may only provide one emergency supply of a particular drug to the same patient within a 12-month period.

Pharmacists and their employers receive civil liability protection for emergency dispensing unless the act constitutes gross negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct.

The Board of Pharmacy will adopt regulations to implement the act, which takes effect on the first day of the fourth month following enactment.

Current regulations already permit emergency dispensing of a 72-hour supply under more permissive conditions; this bill expands that to a 30-day supply with additional safeguards.