32-2532. Prescribing, administering and dispensing drugs; limits and requirements; notice

A. Except as provided in subsection G of this section, a physician assistant shall not prescribe, dispense or administer:

1. A schedule II or schedule III controlled substance as defined in the controlled substances act (P.L. 91-513; 84 Stat. 1242; 21 United States Code section 802) without board approval and United States drug enforcement administration registration.  If the physician assistant has less than eight thousand clinical practice hours, the supervision agreement shall specify the physician assistant's ability to prescribe, dispense or administer a schedule II or schedule III controlled substance.

2. A schedule IV or schedule V controlled substance as defined in the controlled substances act without United States drug enforcement administration registration. If the physician assistant has less than eight thousand clinical practice hours, the supervision agreement shall specify the physician assistant's ability to prescribe, dispense or administer a schedule IV or schedule V controlled substance.

3. Prescription medication intended to perform or induce an abortion.

B. If the physician assistant has less than eight thousand clinical practice hours, the supervision agreement shall specify the physician assistant's ability to prescribe, dispense or administer prescription-only medication.

C. All prescription orders issued by a physician assistant shall contain the name, address and telephone number of the physician assistant. A physician assistant shall issue prescription orders for controlled substances under the physician assistant's own United States drug enforcement administration registration number.

D. If the physician assistant is certified for prescription privileges pursuant to section 32-2504, subsection A, initial prescriptions by the physician assistant for schedule II controlled substances that are opioids are subject to the limits prescribed in sections 32-3248 and 32-3248.01.  For each schedule IV or schedule V controlled substance, the physician assistant may not prescribe the controlled substance more than five times in a six-month period for each patient.

E. A prescription by a physician assistant for a schedule III controlled substance that is an opioid or benzodiazepine is not refillable without the written consent of a physician.

F. A physician assistant may not dispense, prescribe or refill prescription-only drugs for a period exceeding one year for each patient.

G. Except in an emergency, a physician assistant may dispense schedule II or schedule III controlled substances for a period of use of not to exceed seventy-two hours with board approval or any other controlled substance for a period of use of not to exceed ninety days and may administer controlled substances without board approval if it is medically indicated in an emergency dealing with potential loss of life or limb or major acute traumatic pain.  Notwithstanding the authority granted in this subsection, a physician assistant may not dispense a schedule II controlled substance that is an opioid, except for an implantable device or an opioid that is for medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorders or as provided in section 32-3248.03.

H. Except for samples provided by manufacturers, all drugs dispensed by a physician assistant shall be labeled to show the name of the physician assistant.

I. A physician assistant shall not obtain a drug from any source other than a physician or a pharmacist. A physician assistant may receive manufacturers' samples.

J. If a physician assistant is approved by the board to prescribe, administer or dispense schedule II and schedule III controlled substances, the physician assistant shall maintain an up-to-date and complete log of all schedule II and schedule III controlled substances the physician assistant administers or dispenses.  The board may not grant a physician assistant the authority to dispense schedule II controlled substances that are opioids, except for implantable devices or opioids that are for medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorders.

K. The Arizona regulatory board of physician assistants shall advise the Arizona state board of pharmacy and the United States drug enforcement administration of all physician assistants who are authorized to prescribe or dispense drugs and any modification of their authority.

L. The Arizona state board of pharmacy shall notify all pharmacies at least quarterly of physician assistants who are authorized to prescribe or dispense drugs.