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A rulemaking inquiry (CR-101) under WSR 23-23-051 was filed by the commission on November 7, 2023, to consider amending WAC 246-945-345 to clarify the expectation of pharmacies related to prescription transfers upon patient request.
The commission received feedback from interested parties about challenges obtaining requested prescription transfers permitted by WAC 246-945-345(2). On March 2, 2023, the commission voted and approved to consider rulemaking addressing the concerns.
A scam is targeting pharmacy professionals in our state.
Important reminders
- PQAC and DOH never call a pharmacist, pharmacist technician, or anyone else requesting personal information.
- In Washington we are the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission (PQAC). Be suspicious of anyone using a different name, such as the “Board of Pharmacy.”
Keep your information safe
- If you or a family member receives a suspicious call, hang up immediately. Then call the phone number found in the phone book or on the company's or government agency's website to verify the authenticity of the request.
- Use caution if you are pressured for immediate information or action. Do not trust callers who use threats to bully or frighten you. Legitimate investigators will not demand payment over the phone, text, or email.
- Demands that you pay in gift cards, via an online payment app, to UPS stores, in parking lots, or other non-traditional ways attempting to extort money or elicit sensitive information – e.g., license numbers, DEA registration numbers, etc. – from licensees are a scam.
- If you receive a suspicious call, do not send personal information, or money, or accept that your license has been suspended.
- Please help spread the word about this scam by sharing this information with your friends, family, and colleagues.
What to do
Licensee security is important to the Pharmacy Commission. Be aware of these tips. If you receive a suspicious call or letter, or think you have been scammed:
If you have a question about your pharmacy credential:
Techniques used by fake callers include:
- A caller claims a licensee is under investigation by the Pharmacy Commission, the DEA, the FBI, or another government agency. In some cases, the caller also warns of discipline unless the licensee pays a “fine.”
- A caller warns a licensee not to report the call to anyone “or else you will jeopardize the investigation.”
- A caller requests a licensee’s cell phone number.
- A caller gives a fake call-back number.
- A caller spoofs the Commission’s phone number. This happens when your caller ID screen falsely shows an incoming call is from the Pharmacy Commission.
Please be advised, PQAC staff continue to get reports of possible fraudulent prescriptions being submitted to our Washington State pharmacies. If you or your coworkers suspect a fraudulent prescription, please complete this form with any specific information you may have. You may also email RxFraudAlert@doh.wa.gov. To view the full report, please visit our RxFraud Alert page. You may also notify the DEA in Seattle.
Copy/paste if needed:
https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/opinio/s?s=RXFraud
https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/professions-new-renew-or-update/pharmacy-commission/rx-fraud-alerts
https://www.dea.gov/seattle/seattle-contacts
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