What situations require an offer to counsel a patient or caregiver in Ohio?

In Ohio, the law mandates that pharmacists offer to counsel patients and their caregivers in specific situations to ensure safe and effective medication use. The requirement encompasses both new prescriptions and refill prescriptions, reflecting a comprehensive approach to patient care.

For new prescriptions, counseling is critical as it helps the patient understand the medication, its purpose, potential side effects, and proper usage from the outset. This is particularly vital for new drugs where patients may have little to no prior information.

Refill prescriptions also require counseling because a patient may have questions or concerns that have developed during the initial course of treatment. Changes in the patient's condition, interactions with other medications, or new side effects may arise that require discussion, making it important for pharmacists to offer this opportunity.

Thus, the correct answer resonates with the regulatory expectation that pharmacists provide counseling to optimize medication therapy management for both new and refilled prescriptions, enhancing patient safety and adherence to medication regimens.