Extension of DCA Director's Order Waiving Restrictions on Telemedicine and Extending Time to Refill Prescriptions
Pursuant to the Governor's Executive Order N-39-20, on June 4, 2020, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued an Order Waiving Restrictions on Telemedicine and Extending Time to Refill Prescriptions (June 4 Order), which contained two waivers regarding the veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR).
With respect to telemedicine restrictions related to the VCPR, the June 4, 2020 waiver was extended on July 31, 2020, September 17, 2020, December 15, 2020, February 26, 2021, April 30, 2021, and July 1, 2021, so that the waiver was in effect through August 31, 2021. On August 31, 2021, the Director issued a new Order (August 31 Order) further extending the June 4 Order waiving, until October 31, 2021, specified telemedicine restrictions related to the VCPR.
For prescription refills associated with the VCPR, the June 4 Order authorized prescription refills up to 18 months for refills based on an in-person examination of an animal patient last performed by a veterinarian between June 1, 2019 and August 1, 2019. On November 25, 2020, the Director withdrew and superseded that waiver and issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 20 months for refills based on an in-person examination of the animal patient last performed by the veterinarian between June 1, 2019 and August 1, 2019.
On July 31, 2020, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may not be refilled between August 2, 2020, and October 1, 2020, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.
On September 17, 2020, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may not be refilled between October 2, 2020, and December 31, 2020, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.
On December 15, 2020, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may not be refilled between January 1, 2021, and February 28, 2021, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.
On January 26, 2021, the Director issued an order, which withdrew and superseded the June 4 Order and July 31, 2020 Order as they pertained to California Code of Regulations, title 16, section 2032.1, subsection (c). The January 26, 2021 Order also withdrew and superseded the November 25, 2020 Order.
On February 26, 2021, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may not be refilled between March 1, 2021, and April 30, 2021, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.
On April 30, 2021, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may not be refilled between May 1, 2021, and June 30, 2021, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.
On July 1, 2021, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may not be refilled between July 1, 2021, and August 31, 2021, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.
The August 31 Order authorizes prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may not be refilled between September 1, 2021, and October 31, 2021, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.