(a)  Medications shall be released to or with a resident upon discharge if the resident has a physician’s order to continue the medication. Prescribed medications are the property of the resident and shall not be given to, or taken by, other staff or residents according to Rule .1004(o) of this Subchapter.

(b)  Medications, excluding controlled medications that are expired, discontinued, prescribed for a deceased resident or deteriorated shall be stored separately from actively used medications until disposed of.

(c)  Medications, excluding controlled medications, shall be destroyed at the facility or returned to a pharmacy within 90 days of the expiration or discontinuation of medication or following the death of the resident.

(d)  All medications destroyed at the facility shall be destroyed by the administrator or the administrator’s designee and witnessed by a licensed pharmacist, dispensing practitioner, or designee of a licensed pharmacist or dispensing practitioner. The destruction shall be conducted so that no person can use, administer, sell or give away the medication.

(e)  Records of medications destroyed or returned to the pharmacy shall include the resident’s name, the name and strength of the medication, the amount destroyed or returned, the method of destruction if destroyed in the facility and the signature of the administrator or the administrator’s designee and the signature of the licensed pharmacist, dispensing practitioner or designee of the licensed pharmacist or dispensing practitioner. These records shall be maintained by the facility for a minimum of one year.

(f)  A dose of any medication prepared for administration and accidentally contaminated or not administered shall be destroyed at the facility according to the facility’s policies and procedures.