Frequently Asked Questions

Only those physician assistants authorized by law and rule to prescribe shall be permitted to dispense sample drugs to patients. Dispensing of sample drugs to patients shall be permitted only when no charge is made to the patient or a third party for the service or the drugs and if the sample being dispensed could otherwise have been legally prescribed by the physician assistant. This rule shall not be construed to prohibit a physician assistant employed in a county health department from ordering and providing patients with prepackaged and prelabeled drugs in accordance with Section 154.04(1)(c), F.S. (Rule 64B8-30.006, F.A.C.)

Authority to dispense may be delegated only by a supervising physician who is registered as a dispensing practitioner in compliance with s.465.0278.
(Section 458.347(4)(e), F.S.)

A: Only those physician assistants authorized by law and rule to prescribe shall be permitted to dispense sample drugs to patients. Dispensing of sample drugs to patients shall be permitted only when no charge is made to the patient or a third party for the service or the drugs and if the sample being dispensed could otherwise have been legally prescribed by the physician assistant. This rule shall not be construed to prohibit a physician assistant employed in a county health department from ordering and providing patients with prepackaged and prelabeled drugs in accordance with Section 154.04(1)(c), F.S. (Rule 64B8-30.006, F.A.C.)

Authority to dispense may be delegated only by a supervising physician who is registered as a dispensing practitioner in compliance with s.465.0278.  (Section 458.347(4)(e), F.S.)

A: A supervisory physician may delegate to a fully licensed physician assistant the authority to prescribe or dispense any medication used in the supervisory physician’s practice unless such medication is listed in the formulary shown in 64B8-30.008 F.A.C.

A fully licensed physician assistant may only prescribe or dispense such medication under the following circumstances:

1. A physician assistant must clearly identify to the patient that he or she is a physician assistant. Furthermore, the physician assistant must inform the patient that the patient has the right to see the physician prior to any prescription being prescribed or dispensed by the physician assistant.

2. The supervisory physician must notify the department of his or her intent to delegate, on a department-approved form, before delegating such authority and notify the department of any change in prescriptive privileges of the physician assistant. Authority to dispense may be delegated only by a supervising physician who is registered as a dispensing practitioner in compliance with s. 465.0276. (Section 458.347(4)(e), F.S.)