Filing a Complaint with the
North Carolina Board of Pharmacy

Accuracy in dispensing prescription medication. This includes:

• Incorrect medication dispensed versus what was prescribed.

• Incorrect quantity dispensed.

• Incorrect medication directions on label/handouts.

• Medication dispensed to the wrong patient.

Fraud in dispensing medications or Durable Medical Equipment (DME).

Alcohol or substance abuse.

Employee theft of prescription medication.

Poor customer service or rudeness of pharmacy personnel including:

• Personality conflicts.

• Verbal altercations or arguments between pharmacy staff and patient.
  
  Board staff recommends contacting the pharmacy’s corporate office. See below.

Insurance billing disputes which include:

• Prior authorization.

• Insurance rejections.
  
  Board staff recommends contacting Medicare/Medicaid or the Department of Insurance. See below.

Medication shortages. The Board of Pharmacy has no control over medication distribution or availability. Please check the FDA shortage lists at https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/drugshortages/default.cfm.

(a) A pharmacist or device and medical equipment dispenser shall have a right to refuse to fill or refill a prescription order if doing so would be contrary to his or her professional judgment. 

(b) A pharmacist or device and medical equipment dispenser shall not fill or refill a prescription order if, in the exercise of professional judgment, there is or reasonably may be a question regarding the order's accuracy, validity, authenticity, or safety for the patient. 

(c) A prescription order is valid only if it is a lawful order for a drug, device, or medical equipment issued by a health care provider for a legitimate medical purpose, in the context of a patient-prescriber relationship, and in the course of legitimate professional practice as recognized by the occupational licensing board governing the health care provider.