CVS - Assessment Pharmacy Technician Duties Questions and Answers

Question 1

A patient's prescription requires a medication that is currently out of stock. What is the MOST appropriate initial action for the pharmacy technician?

Accepted Answer

Inform the patient about the stock issue and explain the potential options, such as ordering the medication or checking for it at a nearby CVS.

Answer

The technician's role is to provide excellent service by transparently communicating the issue and presenting viable, pharmacist-approved solutions. Suggesting alternatives or changing therapy is outside the technician's scope of practice, and simply directing the patient to their doctor without exploring options is poor service.

Question 2

When entering a new prescription into the pharmacy system, which of the following actions is a critical part of ensuring data accuracy and patient safety?

Accepted Answer

Verifying the patient's date of birth and checking their profile for any known drug allergies.

Answer

Verifying patient identifiers like date of birth is a fundamental step to ensure the correct patient's profile is selected. Checking for allergies is a crucial safety measure to prevent adverse drug events. The other options relate to service or assumptions, not core safety and accuracy protocols.

Question 3

Which of the following tasks falls within the standard scope of practice for a CVS pharmacy technician?

Accepted Answer

Counting and pouring medication to fill a prescription vial under pharmacist supervision.

Answer

A pharmacy technician's primary duties include the technical aspects of preparing a prescription, such as counting, pouring, and labeling, all under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist. Recommending medication (counseling), performing the final clinical verification, and (in most states) taking new verbal orders are duties reserved for the pharmacist.

Question 4

While processing a prescription, you receive an insurance rejection stating "Prior Authorization Required." What is the pharmacy technician's primary responsibility in this situation?

Accepted Answer

Inform the patient of the rejection and explain that the pharmacy will likely need to contact the prescriber's office to initiate the approval process with the insurer.

Answer

A 'Prior Authorization' rejection means the insurance company needs more information from the prescriber. The technician's role is to communicate this to the patient and begin the process, which usually involves contacting the doctor's office. The other actions are either unhelpful, outside the technician's scope, or not the primary step.

Question 5

A person comes to the counter asking to pick up a prescription for their spouse. To comply with patient privacy (HIPAA) regulations while providing service, what is the technician's BEST course of action?

Accepted Answer

Ask for the patient's full name and date of birth to verify before providing information or the prescription.

Answer

HIPAA requires pharmacies to protect patient health information but allows for disclosure to family or friends involved in care if proper verification is made. Verifying key patient identifiers like full name and date of birth is a standard procedure to confirm the person is authorized, thereby protecting privacy while ensuring the patient receives their medication.

CVS - Assessment Practice Test

CVS - Assessment Practice Test

CVS - Assessment Pharmacy Technician Duties Questions and Answers