In what circumstance is a pharmacy allowed to dispense a drug without a written prescription?

In Nevada, pharmacies may dispense a drug without a written prescription under certain regulated circumstances, one of which is when a faxed prescription is received from the prescriber. This method is acceptable as long as the faxed document contains all required information and is sent from the prescriber's office directly to the pharmacy. The fax serves as a legitimate order from the prescriber, allowing the pharmacy to fulfill the prescription without needing a physical handwritten document.

While emergency situations can sometimes allow for verbal prescriptions, the procedure must adhere to specific guidelines and may still require additional documentation afterward. The notion of a patient having previously filled the medication and that being a reason to dispense again does not in itself authorize the pharmacy to operate outside of the standard prescription requirement. A pharmacy's licensing category does not eliminate the necessity for a prescription; it only defines the scope of services the pharmacy can offer. Thus, the correct circumstance where a pharmacy can dispense without a written prescription is indeed related to the receipt of a faxed prescription from the prescriber.