[DR JBS]

Patient wants to have a second party pick up their medication from a pharmacy. Does the pharmacy need a signed HIPPA release form to allow this? If so, where can I get the necessary form?

[Wondergirl]

**Yes, the person needs to sign a HIPAA form. The pharmacy has the form. That was my experience.**

I Googled this and found that the pharmacist can use his best judgment to allow a friend or family member to pick up the med without the patient's signature.

Our nifty medical experts will see this and weigh in.

[DR JBS]

You answered the first part of the question.

Part 2 is... I am the pharmacy/pharmacist. Where do I get a copy of the form that the patient must sign for authorizing the patients representative to pick up his or her medication?

[DR JBS]

**Yes, the person needs to sign a HIPAA form. The pharmacy has the form. That was my experience.**

I Googled this and found that the pharmacist can use his best judgment to allow a friend or family member to pick up the med without the patient's signature.

Our nifty medical experts will see this and weigh in.

I am a pharmacist. I read the same thing you read on Google. It is not correct. The patient is the only person allowed to pick up the medication and sign. If the patient can not pick it up, the patient can sign a release form allowing his representative to do so. I need a copy of the form. Where can I get it?

[Wondergirl]

You answered the first part of the question.

Part 2 is... I am the pharmacy/pharmacist. Where do I get a copy of the form that the patient must sign for authorizing the patients representative to pick up his or her medication?

I called my pharmacist who said that he asks his patients who pick up prescribed meds to sign a keypad. He gives them the HIPAA privacy information sheets (printouts). Anyone else who picks up meds for that patient signs the keypad, and the information is then stored in the pharmacy's computer.

I asked if this is now the accepted practice and was told yes, by any pharmacy that's using a computer system.

Do you use a computer system? I did find pdf HIPAA forms online.

[CravenMorhead]

It is much to relaxed in canada. I pick up my wife's prescriptions all the time. We have different last names. They don't even really check ID.

[tickle]

Crave, not too relaxed, just more practical. I pick up my husbands and he picks up mine. No problem, and no HIPPA.

If this pharmacist wants this information, he probably has a regulation book in his pharmacy that gives him this information.

He just does not want to look hard enough.

Patient wants to have a second party pick up their medication from a pharmacy. Does the pharmacy need a signed HIPPA release form to allow this? If so, where can I get the necessary form?

I don't know why you are asking us to do the legwork for your DR JBS. You must have resources for this information at your fingertips. Are you new to your job ?

[Wondergirl]

I'm somewhat concerned about his mention of "HIPPA."

[tickle]

Wondergirl, that is his problem. HE is the doctor; or pharmacist...

[Wondergirl]

I was referring to his misspelling of the acronym (if he's a pharmacist in the U.S.).

[tickle]

That is for him to tell us

[ScottGem]

Bottom line is if the pharmacist gave the medication to a third party without express permission, they could be cited and fined for a HIPAA violation. From a practical standpoint, if the pharmacist knows the patient and the third party they might have no concern about a complaint being made. But to protect oneself, it is better to have a permission form signed.

[AK lawyer]

I am a pharmacist. I read the same thing you read on Google. It is not correct. The patient is the only person allowed to pick up the medication and sign. If the patient can not pick it up, the patient can sign a release form allowing his representative to do so. I need a copy of the form. Where can I get it?

Most pharmacists in my experience will deliver the prescription to a family member. I pick up my wife's all the time. I suppose the theory is that, unless my wife has asked me to do so, I wouldn't know that the prescription has been filled and is ready. But if you want to be obsessive about it, make up your own form. Takes about two lines:

"Date: _____________
I, _______, of __________ (address), hereby authorize ___________ to pick up all my prescriptions from [name of pharmacist].
________________
[name of customer]"