Prescription Adaptation Services: A Regulatory and Practice Perspective

“Prescription adaptation services” refers to the ability of a pharmacist to autonomously “adapt” an existing prescription when the action is intended to optimize the therapeutic outcome. Adaptation services typically fall into 2 categories: (1) renewals and (2) changes. Renewals ensure continuity of care for patients and may be emergency renewals (typically 72 hours) or continuation-of-therapy renewals (typically 90 or more days). Changes include therapeutic substitutions or changes to quantity, formulation, route of administration, dose/interval, and completing missing information. With an appropriate framework in place, adaptation services can safely optimize medication therapy outcomes while promoting efficiencies.