South Carolina Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) Practice Exam

If a patient needs an essential non-controlled substance medication and cannot reach the prescriber, what is the maximum day supply that can be given?

1. 1 day

2. 3 days

3. 7 days

4. 30 days

The correct answer is: 3 days

The correct answer is that a maximum of a 3-day supply of an essential non-controlled substance medication can be dispensed to a patient when they cannot reach the prescriber. This provision is part of emergency measures that allow pharmacists to ensure patient continuity of care when a medication is needed urgently but the prescriber is unavailable for consultation. This 3-day supply rule is established to balance the patient's immediate needs with the responsible practice of pharmacy. It allows sufficient time for the patient to either contact their prescriber or find alternative means to obtain their necessary medication without leaving them without crucial treatment. The rationale behind this limitation is to prevent potential misuse or over-reliance on the pharmacist for prescription refills while still addressing patient needs in situations where access to prescribers is hindered. Higher day supplies, such as 7 days or 30 days, are generally inappropriate for this context as they could lead to unnecessary additional risk factors and could circumvent necessary physician oversight. Thus, the 3-day supply option serves as a practical safeguard.