4725-16-04. Standards and procedures for review of "Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System" (OARRS)

(A) For purposes of this rule:

(1) "OARRS" means the "Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System" drug database established and maintained pursuant to section 4729.75 of the Revised Code.

(2) "OARRS report" means a report of information related to a specified patient generated by the drug database established and maintained pursuant to section 4729.75 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Personally furnish" means the distribution of drugs by a prescriber to the prescriber's patients for use outside the prescriber's practice setting.

(4) "Protracted basis" means a period in excess of twelve continuous weeks.

(5) "Reported drugs" means all the drugs listed in rule 4729-37-02 of the Administrative Code that are required to be reported to the drug database established and maintained pursuant to section 4729.75 of the Revised Code, including:

(a) Controlled substances in schedules II, III, IV, and V, and

(b) All dangerous drug products containing carisoprodol or tramadol.

(c) Other non-controlled dangerous drug products as listed in rule 4729-37-02 of the Administrative Code in the definitions as paragraph (A)(5)(b) of this rule.

(B) If an optometrist believes or has reason to believe that a patient may be abusing or diverting drugs, the optometrist shall use sound clinical judgment in determining whether or not the reported drug should be prescribed or personally furnished to the patient under the circumstances.

(1) To assist in this determination, the optometrist shall access OARRS and document receipt and assessment of the information received if the patient exhibits the following signs of drug abuse or diversion:

(a) Selling prescription drugs;

(b) Forging or altering a prescription;

(c) Stealing or borrowing reported drugs;

(d) Increasing the dosage of reported drugs in amounts that exceed the prescribed amount;

(e) Having a drug screen result that is inconsistent with the treatment plan or refusing to participate in a drug screen;

(f) Having been arrested, convicted or received diversion, or intervention in lieu of conviction for a drug related offense while under the physician's care;

(g) Receiving reported drugs from multiple prescribers, without clinical basis; or

(h) Having a family member, friend, law enforcement officer, or health care professional express concern related to the patient's use of illegal or reported drugs.

(2) Other signs of possible abuse or diversion which may necessitate accessing OARRS include, but are not limited to the following:

(a) A known history of chemical abuse or dependency;

(b) Appearing impaired or overly sedated during an office visit or exam;

(c) Requesting reported drugs by specific name, street name, color, or identifying marks;

(d) Frequently requesting early refills of reported drugs;

(e) Frequently losing prescriptions for reported drugs;

(f) A history of illegal drug use;

(g) Sharing reported drugs with another person; or

(h) Recurring emergency department visits to obtain reported drugs.

(C) An optometrist prescribing or personally furnishing reported drugs to treat a patient on a protracted basis shall, at a minimum, document receipt and assessment of an OARRS report in the following circumstances:

(1) Once the optometrist has reason to believe that the treatment will be required on a protracted basis; and

(2) At least once annually, thereafter.

(D) An optometrist shall document receipt and assessment of all OARRS reports in the patient record.

(1) Initial reports requested in compliance with this rule shall cover a time period of at least one year;

(2) Subsequent reports requested in compliance with this rule shall, at a minimum, cover the period from the date of the last report to present.

(E) In the event an OARRS report is not available prior to writing a prescription for a reported drug or personally furnishing the reported drug, an optometrist shall document in the patient record why the OARRS report was not available.

(F) Paragraph (C) of this rule does not apply to a hospice patient in a hospice care program as those terms are defined in section 3712.01 of the Revised Code.

Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 6/13/2019 and 06/13/2024
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 4725.09
Rule Amplifies: 472509
Prior Effective Dates: 05/01/2014

Prior History: (Effective: 05/01/2014
R.C. 119.032 review dates: 05/01/2019
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 4725.09
Rule Amplifies: 4725.09)