MT MPJE cheat sheet

The Montana Board of Pharmacy regulates pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and all pharmacy outlets in the state; it adopts rules under the Montana Pharmacy Practice Act (Title 37, Chapter 7, MCA).

Pharmacist licensure requires graduation from an ACPE-accredited program, passage of NAPLEX and MPJE, and completion of the statutorily required internship hours approved by the Board.

Pharmacy technicians in Montana register with the Board; a certified technician may perform additional duties defined in rule, but final verification of a prescription remains a pharmacist function.

A pharmacy must hold a current Board-issued license for each location; changes of ownership, location, or pharmacist-in-charge require notification or new licensure per Board rule.

Continuous quality improvement program: Montana pharmacies must maintain a documented CQI program that reviews dispensing errors and quality-related events, with records retained and made available to the Board.

Prescription drug monitoring: pharmacists and prescribers query the Montana Prescription Drug Registry; dispensers report controlled substance dispensing to the registry on the required schedule.

Immunization authority: pharmacists may administer vaccines to eligible ages under a Board-recognized protocol or prescription, with documentation, reporting to the immunization information system, and CPR/first-aid requirements.

Collaborative practice and protocol-based care: Montana allows pharmacist participation in collaborative drug therapy management and certain prescribing under Board rules when a written protocol with a prescriber is in place.

Drug substitution and labeling: generic substitution is permitted when not prohibited by the prescriber; labels must include pharmacy and patient information, directions, and required auxiliary information per rule.

CSA schedules: Schedule II has high abuse potential with accepted medical use; Schedule III-V have decreasing abuse potential. Schedule I substances have no accepted medical use and cannot be prescribed.

Schedule II prescriptions must be written, electronic, or oral in emergencies with a written follow-up within 7 days; no refills are permitted. Partial fills are allowed under DEA rules with remaining quantity filled within 30 days.

Schedule III-V prescriptions may be refilled up to 5 times within 6 months of the date of issue unless the prescriber specifies otherwise.

Electronic prescriptions for controlled substances require DEA-compliant EPCS software, identity proofing, and two-factor authentication; pharmacists must verify the prescription meets EPCS requirements.

DEA registration: each pharmacy location and each prescriber needs a DEA registration for the schedules handled; registrations renew every 3 years and must be kept current and available for inspection.

Recordkeeping: Schedule II records and inventories must be maintained separately; biennial inventories are required, and all controlled substance records must be kept 2 years and available for DEA inspection.

Theft or significant loss of controlled substances must be reported to the DEA field office in writing within one business day of discovery, with completion of a DEA Form 106.

HIPAA and confidentiality: protected health information may be disclosed for treatment, payment, and operations; state law may impose stricter limits, and the stricter standard controls when both apply.

FDA and DSCSA: drug products must be approved or legally marketed; the Drug Supply Chain Security Act requires transaction documentation and verification of suspect or illegitimate product through the supply chain.