Bill > HR4599

This bill, the Reducing Unused Medications Act of 2016, amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow pharmacists to partially fill prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances, which are typically potent painkillers like opioid painkillers, under specific conditions. These conditions include that the partial fill is not prohibited by state law, the prescription itself adheres to all existing laws and regulations, and either the patient or the prescribing doctor requests it, ensuring that the total amount of medication dispensed never exceeds the total amount originally prescribed. Furthermore, pharmacists can also partially fill these prescriptions in other situations already permitted by current Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulations, such as when a full quantity cannot be supplied, or for patients in long-term care facilities or those who are terminally ill. The remaining portion of a partially filled prescription must then be dispensed within 30 days of the original prescription date, or within 72 hours in emergency situations.