FDA’s Guidance on Compounding Commercially Available Products in Short Supply

“each drug product [is] compounded for an identified individual patient based on the receipt of a valid prescription order…approved by the prescribing practitioner, on the prescription order that a compounded product is necessary for the identified patient.” While there is some leniency for anticipatory compounding under certain circumstances, we would encourage pharmacies to review FDA’s Prescription Requirement Under Section 503A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act Guidance for Industry prior to doing so. Additionally, when pharmacies identify a need to compound a prescription that is written for an unavailable commercial product, pharmacies must get approval from the prescriber and make a clinical note on the prescription hardcopy.

Although the FDA memo references beta-lactams only, being mindful of this guidance is helpful with any commercially available compounded product that a pharmacy makes, including oseltamivir (Tamiflu) suspension. Tamiflu suspension is not currently listed on the FDA’s Drug Shortage List, but pharmacies nationwide have been struggling to get the product from their wholesalers. So, what are pharmacies to do in order to be best protected in case of an audit?

PAAS has received numerous prescription validation requests, specifically from Caremark, for compounded Tamiflu prescriptions, looking for proper compounding and billing practices. For good measure, consider attaching a screenshot of your wholesaler(s)’ website showing proof the commercially available product was not available on or around the date of compounding, or a copy of your purchase order reflecting a product was unavailable to be shipped. Ensure the date, NDC, drug name, and inventory outage is visible. The longer you can prove that an ongoing shortage of a product exists, the better your situation becomes in the event an audit questions the continuous need to compound. We do not believe this is necessary for products listed on the FDA’s Drug Shortage List, but documentation to that effect on the prescription would be prudent regardless.

In addition, consider the following PAAS National^® Tips when in the situation where compounding a commercially available product is necessary.

PAAS Tips:

• Reference the FDA’s Drug Shortage List. If the product is listed, print off and attach to hard copy.
• Reference package insert to inquire if there is a predetermined method to compound products, as seen within Tamiflu’s package insert.
• Check with your state’s board of pharmacy or Medicaid to inquire if any concessions or guidance has been given regarding drug shortages.
• PBMs do not pay for waste, unlike suspensions that are reconstituted. Compound the exact amount needed to complete the therapy.
• Follow proper compounding billing and documentation processes, outlined in the November 2021 Newsline article, Self-Audit Series #10 – Compound Prescriptions.