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

A. Except as provided in subsection F 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 federal controlled substances act of 1970 (P.L. 91-513; 84 Stat. 1242; 21 United States Code section 802) without delegation by the supervising physician, board approval and United States drug enforcement administration registration.

2. A schedule IV or schedule V controlled substance as defined in the federal controlled substances act of 1970 without United States drug enforcement administration registration and delegation by the supervising physician.

3. Prescription-only medication without delegation by the supervising physician.

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

B. 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.

C. If certified for prescription privileges pursuant to section 32-2504, subsection A, initial prescriptions for schedule II controlled substances that are opioids are subject to the limits prescribed in sections 32-3248 and 32-3248.01 if the physician assistant has been delegated to prescribe schedule II controlled substances by the supervising physician pursuant to this section. 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.

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

E. Prescription-only drugs shall not be dispensed, prescribed or refillable for a period exceeding one year.

F. 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.

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

H. A physician assistant shall not obtain a drug from any source other than the supervising physician or a pharmacist. A physician assistant may receive manufacturers' samples if delegated to do so by the supervising physician.

I. 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.

J. The board 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.

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