MANDATORY TABLET SPLITTING FOR COST CONTAINMENT

To oppose mandatory tablet splitting for cost containment in ambulatory care; further,

To encourage pharmacists, when voluntary tablet splitting is considered, to collaborate with patients, caregivers, and other health care professionals to determine whether tablet splitting is appropriate on the basis of the patient's ability to split tablets and the suitability of the medication (e.g., whether it is scored or is an extended-release product); further,

To urge pharmacists to promote dosing accuracy and patient safety by ensuring that patients are educated on how to properly split tablets; further,

To encourage further research by the United States Pharmacopeia and the Food and Drug Administration on the impact of tablet splitting on product quality.

This policy was reviewed in 2023 by the Council on Pharmacy Practice and by the Board of Directors and was found to still be appropriate.

Rationale

This policy position was developed before preparation of a policy rationale became routine, so no rationale is available.