45:12-9.11 Prescription restrictions.
9. a. Whenever in any law there is a requirement or duty with respect to the prescription, administration or dispensing of any drug which applies to any person authorized to prescribe that drug, the same shall apply to an optometrist when prescribing, administering or dispensing a pharmaceutical agent pursuant to R.S.45:12-1, except that an optometrist shall not dispense a prescription as provided for in R.S.45:12-1 in an amount exceeding a 72-hour supply of that prescription unless the prescription is dispensed at no charge to the patient. Subject to the provisions of P.L.1991, c.385 (C.45:12-9.8 et seq.), an optometrist authorized to prescribe, administer, or dispense a pharmaceutical agent shall be permitted to prescribe, administer, and dispense for the purpose of diagnosing and treating deficiencies, deformities, diseases, or abnormalities of the human eye and adnexae pharmaceutical agents classified as Schedule III, IV, and V controlled dangerous substances and, regardless of schedule, pharmaceutical agents containing hydrocodone.
b. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. of this section, an optometrist may dispense a pharmaceutical agent, as provided for in R.S.45:12-1, that is delivered to the eye through a contact lens and may dispense such pharmaceutical agent at a charge to the patient.
L.1991, c.385, s.9; amended 2010, c.12, s.2; 2015, c.65.