Prescription Dispensing Process Flashcards
6 cards from real ExCPT Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Prescription Dispensing Process flashcards as text
When verifying a new prescription, which of the following elements must the technician confirm is present on the written prescription?
Answer: Date the prescription was written
A valid prescription must include the date written (along with prescriber info, patient info, drug, dose, quantity, sig, and signature). The date is essential for validating the prescription and determining if it is still valid.
What does 'sig' refer to on a prescription?
Answer: The directions for use/administration instructions
'Sig' (from Latin 'signa' meaning 'write') refers to the directions for use — how, when, and how often the patient should take the medication.
A prescription is brought in for 'Synthroid 50 mcg.' The pharmacy only has levothyroxine 50 mcg in stock. What is the BEST action?
Answer: Dispense levothyroxine 50 mcg with pharmacist approval for therapeutic substitution
Levothyroxine (generic) and Synthroid (brand) contain the same active ingredient. With pharmacist approval and appropriate DAW code, the generic can be substituted unless the prescriber wrote DAW 1.
What is the 'fill date' on a prescription, and why does it matter?
Answer: The date the pharmacy dispensed the medication — used for refill calculations
The fill date is when the pharmacy dispensed the medication. Insurance plans and DEA regulations use this date to calculate refill eligibility.
Which of the following is the FIRST step in the standard pharmacy dispensing workflow?
Answer: Receive and review the prescription for completeness and validity
The first step is to receive the prescription and review it for all required elements, potential forgery, patient allergies, and any obvious clinical concerns before entering data.
What information is typically required to process a third-party insurance claim for a prescription?
Answer: BIN number, PCN, group ID, and member ID from the insurance card
The BIN (Bank Identification Number), PCN (Processor Control Number), group ID, and member ID from the patient's pharmacy insurance card are required to route and process a pharmacy claim electronically.