What must a pharmacist do before refilling a prescription?

Before refilling a prescription, it is crucial for a pharmacist to ensure that the prescription has been authorized for refills by the prescriber. This step is essential to confirm that the prescriber has allowed for the medication to be refilled, as it reflects the prescriber’s ongoing management of the patient's treatment plan.

The prescriber determines how many refills a patient may receive based on their specific medical needs and conditions, and refilling without this authorization could lead to potential misuse of medication or harm to the patient. This confirmation is also vital for legal compliance; refilling without proper authorization could violate pharmacy laws and regulations.

Other actions, such as contacting the patient for confirmation, verifying insurance information, or checking the expiration date of the medication, may be part of the overall process but do not replace the necessity of confirming that the refill is authorized. Thus, ensuring that the prescription is authorized for refills by the prescriber is the foundational step a pharmacist must take before proceeding with a refill.