Is it acceptable for prescribers to issue blanket authorizations for carries “on holidays” or “when the pharmacy is closed” for OAT prescriptions?

Prescription authorizations must always be patient-specific, taking into consideration the needs of the individual patient. As such, blanket authorizations applied to more than one patient are not acceptable. The indicated directions on any prescription must always be expressed in a manner that makes the intent of the prescriber clear. Instructions that authorize carries “on holidays” or “when the pharmacy is closed” are ambiguous as they lack the specificity required to determine the number of days the patient is allowed to carry. For instance, if a pharmacy is closed for three days per week, the patient would receive three carries. Conversely, if a pharmacy is closed for one day per week, the patient would only receive one carry. A prescriber must ensure that they are providing directions that clearly indicate how many days the patient is authorized to carry.