Section 21. The pharmacist filling a written, electronic or oral prescription for a controlled substance shall package the controlled substance in a container, affixing to the container a label showing the date of filling, the pharmacy name and address, the filling pharmacist's initials, the serial number of the prescription, the name of the patient, unless it is a veterinary prescription, the name of the prescribing practitioner, the name of the controlled substance, directions for use and cautionary statements, if any, contained in such prescription or required by law, and if the controlled substance is dispensed as tablets or capsules the number of same in such container.
Upon the request of an elderly person, as defined in section fourteen of chapter nineteen A or a person visually impaired, directions on the label affixed by the pharmacist to a container of a prescription drug shall be typed in a print size allowing no more than ten characters per inch.
The department of public health shall produce and distribute either in written or electronic form to pharmacies, not including institutional pharmacies, pamphlets for consumers relative to narcotic drugs, specifically opiates, that includes educational information about: (i) pain management; (ii) misuse and abuse by adults and children; (iii) risk of dependency and addiction; (iv) proper storage and disposal; (v) addiction support and treatment resources; and (vi) the telephone helpline operated by the bureau of substance addiction services established in section 18 of chapter 17. A pharmacist shall distribute the pamphlet when dispensing a narcotic or controlled substance contained in Schedule II or III.
The labeling provisions of this section shall apply to the compounding and dispensing of drugs on the oral, electronic or written prescription of a licensed and registered prescriber under section 9. All drug preparations compounded, made or formulated by a pharmacy licensed by the board of registration in pharmacy shall have affixed to their container by the compounding pharmacy a label notifying prescribed users and practitioners that the drug is either a sterile or non-sterile compounded drug preparation.
All pharmacies engaged in sterile or complex non-sterile compounding and licensed under sections 39G to 39I, inclusive, of chapter 112 shall provide a telephone number to foster communication between patients in the commonwealth and a pharmacist employed by the pharmacy who has access to the patient's records. The phone shall be staffed during regular hours of operation every day and not less than 56 hours per week. The phone number shall be affixed to the drug's container, alongside the label notifying prescribed users and practitioners of the fact that the drug is a compounded drug preparation. This paragraph shall not apply to an institutional pharmacy licensed pursuant to section 39I of chapter 112 if the sterile drug preparation compounded by such pharmacy is to be administered to an individual admitted as an inpatient within the same hospital.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title XV - Regulation of Trade
Chapter 94c - Controlled Substances Act
Section 2 - Establishment of Schedules of Drugs or Other Controlled Substances
Section 2a - Temporary Placement of Substance in Schedule I
Section 3 - Findings Required for Placement in Schedules
Section 4 - Exceptions From Schedules
Section 5 - Dispensing Controlled Substances Excepted Under Sec. 4
Section 6 - Rules and Regulations
Section 7a - Registration as Participant in Prescription Monitoring Program
Section 8 - Research Projects and Studies
Section 10 - Separate Registration
Section 11 - Inspection of Establishments of Registrants or Applicants
Section 12 - Issuance of Registration to Manufacture or Distribute Controlled Substances
Section 16 - Distribution Between Registrants; Order Form
Section 17 - Necessity of Prescription for Dispensing Controlled Substances
Section 18 - Issuance of Prescription by Practitioner or Physician
Section 18b - Voluntary Non-Opiate Directive Form
Section 18c - Patient Education Required Before Issuance of Opioid Prescription
Section 19 - Prescription; Restrictions on Issuance
Section 19a - Emergency Contraception
Section 19b - Dispensing, Possessing and Administrating Opioid Antagonist
Section 19b1/2 - Exchange of Naloxone or Other Opioid Antagonist Between Registered Entities
Section 19d - Supply Limitations for Opiate Prescriptions; Exception for Palliative Care
Section 20 - Oral Prescriptions
Section 20a - Radiopharmaceutical Drugs
Section 21a - Prescriptions; Prospective Drug Review and Counseling by Pharmacist
Section 21b - Advertisement and Sale of Prescription Lock Boxes by Pharmacies
Section 22 - Contents of Prescription Written by Practitioner
Section 23 - Written or Electronic Prescriptions; Requirements and Restrictions
Section 27 - Sale of Hypodermic Syringes or Hypodermic Needles
Section 28 - Jurisdiction of Superior Court
Section 29 - Educational Programs for Prevention of Abuse of Controlled Substances
Section 30 - Administrative Inspection of Controlled Premises
Section 32k - Inducing or Abetting Minor to Distribute or Sell Controlled Substances
Section 32m - Possession of 2 Ounces or Less of Marihuana; Drug Awareness Program
Section 37 - Theft of Controlled Substances From Persons Authorized to Dispense or Possess
Section 38 - Violation of Secs. 24(a), 25, 26 or 27
Section 39 - Violation of Secs. 21 or 22
Section 41 - Arrest Without Warrant
Section 42 - Cooperation With Federal and Other State Agencies
Section 43 - Conformity With Federal Acts
Section 45 - Photographing and Fingerprinting of Persons Charged With Felony