What is required when a prescription is mailed or delivered to a patient?

When a prescription is mailed or delivered to a patient, the requirement for written counseling is essential for ensuring that the patient has access to critical information about their medications. This is particularly important for new prescriptions, as patients may not be familiar with the medication's purpose, how to take it, potential side effects, and what to do in case of missed doses.

For appropriate refill prescriptions, written counseling is also beneficial because it can remind patients about any changes to their therapy, new warnings, or updated information that could affect their treatment. The goal is to promote safe and effective use of medications, as patients may not receive in-person counseling when prescriptions are delivered. Providing written material serves as a valuable resource that patients can refer back to at their convenience.

In this context, while verbal instructions are important, there’s a higher standard imposed when prescriptions are not handed directly to the patient where pharmacists can have direct conversations. Complications can arise when patients only receive verbal instructions without accompanying written material, which might lead to misunderstandings about their treatment. Thus, written counseling for new and appropriate refill prescriptions stands out as the correct requirement in this case.