§328-92  Drug product selection.  (a) When filling a prescription order for a drug prescribed by its brand name, apharmacist or the pharmacist's authorized agent shall:

(1)  Offer to the consumer an equivalent generic drugproduct from the formulary adopted pursuant to section 328-96; and

(2)  Upon the request of theconsumer, inform the consumer of the savings; and

(3)  Inform the consumer ofthe consumer's right to refuse substitution.

The pharmacist shall substitute an equivalentgeneric drug product if the practitioner does not prohibit substitution undersubsection (b), and the substitute equivalent generic drug product results in asavings.  The pharmacist shall not substitute if the consumer refuses.

(b)  The pharmacist shall not substitute an equivalent generic drug product ifthe practitioner indicates "brand medically necessary" or words ofsimilar meaning on the prescription.  The designation "brand medicallynecessary" or other similar words or phrases must be handwritten by thepractitioner and shall not be preprinted or stamped on the writtenprescription.  The pharmacist shall not substitute an equivalent generic drugproduct if a prescription is orally or electronically ordered and thepractitioner or authorized employee of the practitioner indicates "brandmedically necessary" or other similar words or phrases.

The pharmacist shallnote the practitioner's instructions on the prescription record required to bemaintained under section 328-17.7.

This subsection shallnot apply when it does not comply with any federal requirement for servicesreimbursable by medicaid or medicare.

(c)  The pharmacist shall not substitute anequivalent generic drug product for any prescription for an anti-epilepticdrug, except upon the consent of the practitioner and the patient or thepatient's parent or guardian.  This narrow exception for epileptic patientsshall not be construed as a policy decision to make exceptions for any otherconditions.

(d)  The countyprosecutors and the attorney general may bring action upon complaint by anaggrieved person or upon their own motion in the name of the State against anyperson to enjoin any violation of this part. [L 1980, c 187, pt of §1;am L 1982, c 122, §1(4); gen ch 1985; am L 1992, c 193, §§1, 5; am L 1996, c 209,§3; am L 1997, c 214, §6; am L 2003, c 56, §6]