NP providing Rx across state lines?

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Total hypothetical here -

Often a physician will call in an antibiotic for a family member, sometimes across state lines. Would a NP in Arizona for instance, be able to call in a Rx for their brother in Utah (or any other combo of states)?

Legal?

Lets hear your thoughts.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Nursing Education.

NOT legal.

Number one - its family. You're not supposed to treat family members.

Number two - you wouldn't have a patient / provider relationship established.

Number three - if it is in a different state - you would be practicing without a license if no license in this state.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

And number four: you could face disciplinary action.....don't do it ever!!!

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yeah, and its funny, how I went to CareNow recently because i have no PCP right now. They told me since I was a provider, why didn't i just go write the scripts myself...because that's all i went for..

Besides its illegal, and unethical, i work inpatient and don't have a scripts pad...

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Total hypothetical here -

Often a physician will call in an antibiotic for a family member, sometimes across state lines. Would a NP in Arizona for instance, be able to call in a Rx for their brother in Utah (or any other combo of states)?

Legal?

Lets hear your thoughts.

I would think this practice would be stopped at the Pharmacy when the prescription was getting filled.

Don't they check for these things?

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NOT legal.

Number one - its family. You're not supposed to treat family members.

Number two - you wouldn't have a patient / provider relationship established.

Number three - if it is in a different state - you would be practicing without a license if no license in this state.

I do agree you should not treat family members, although I do not think this is a legal issue. I am wondering about using express script or another national pharmacy many patients use, they are usually out of state. Although I do not recall the exact reason, if you see a patient in one state and write a rx and they take the rx to another state to fill I do not think it is illegal.

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Specializes in Peds Urology,primary care, hem/onc.

Quick thought on the writing script for a patient in a different state....

I work and am licensed in DE. My patients can also be from and live in NJ, MD and PA. A simple way that we learned it... you can write a script for a patient if your feet are in the state you are licensed in when you write it/call it in. I write scripts all the time that get filled in pharmacies in 4 different states, because I am in DE when I write them. Now, when I went into PA to see patients at a different site (do not have Rx authority there) I cannot write scripts in that clinic b/c I do not have RX authority there in that state. Only catch is that some of the State Medicaids want the perscriber to have a license in that state. So you should always check with your local state nursing board (as we did) to make sure.

But I would NEVER write a script for a family member.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Nursing Education.

who the heck calls in antibiotics anyway?

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We had a physician that served 5 years in prison in my area.

In addition to having tons of records for scripts of patients that he never saw before, when the local pharmacies started to figure it out, he would start writing them for family members instead.

He also did 4 botched surgeries.....one of which left a young woman sterile d/t total hysterectomy.

...and would you believe that they gave that guy his medical license back?

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who the heck calls in antibiotics anyway?

I always do, why wouldn't you call in rx for antibiotics?

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I do agree you should not treat family members, although I do not think this is a legal issue. I am wondering about using express script or another national pharmacy many patients use, they are usually out of state. Although I do not recall the exact reason, if you see a patient in one state and write a rx and they take the rx to another state to fill I do not think it is illegal.

It may not be a legal issue, but it is definitely against the Board of Medicine and Board of Nursing rules in Texas. I read the press releases from the TXBOM on their website every now and then and I'm amazed at how many physicians get disciplined for treating family members...just for prescribing an antibiotic. Amazing.

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Specializes in Acute Care - Cardiology.

actually... from the texas state bon site...

"15.22 apns providing medical aspects of care for themselves or others with whom there is a close personal relationship

advanced practice nurses often find themselves in situations where they may feel compelled to provide medical aspects of care or prescribe medications for themselves, their family members, or other individuals with whom they have a close personal relationship. such practices raise a number of ethical questions. the board is concerned that advanced practice nurses in these situations risk allowing their personal feelings to cloud their professional judgment and objectivity. it is the opinion of the texas board of nursing that advanced practice nurses should not provide medical treatment or prescribe medications for themselves or any individual with whom they have a close personal relationship.

(board action 10/2003)"

"should not"... doesn't mean "cannot"... or suggest any law breaking... but i agree there are many issues at risk here.

http://www.bon.state.tx.us/practice/position.html#15.22

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