SECTION 554.1504. Drug Security

(a) The facility must establish procedures for storing and disposing of drugs and biologicals in accordance with federal, state, and local laws.

(b) When not in use, a medication cart must be secured in a designated area.

(c) Small multiple-dose drug containers which are placed into another container must be labeled in a manner so that, if the two containers become separated, the small drug container still has a strip label attached containing the name of the resident and the prescription number.

(d) Self-administered medications may be kept in a locked cabinet in the resident's room. When medications are self-administered, the facility remains responsible for medication security, accurate information, and medication compliance.

(e) The facility must store each resident's drugs in their original containers.

(f) The facility must store medications under appropriate conditions of sanitation, temperature, light, moisture, ventilation, segregation, and security.

(g) Medications of deceased residents, medications that have passed the expiration date, and medications that have been discontinued must be securely stored and reconciled. These medications must be disposed of according to federal and state laws or rules on a quarterly basis. Discontinued drugs may be reinstated if reordered prior to destruction. These medications cannot be given to a family member or representative.

(h) When the directions for administration of a resident's medication have changed, but the existing supply of medication can still be administered accurately, the medication must not be destroyed. The facility must affix a change-of-direction ancillary sticker or similar system and use the remaining medication. The medication label must be updated at the time of next dispensing.

Source Note: The provisions of this §554.1504 adopted to be effective May 1, 1995, 20 TexReg 2054; amended to be effective September 1, 2003, 28 TexReg 6939; transferred effective January 15, 2021, as published in the Texas Register December 11, 2020, 45 TexReg 8871