Date of fill is the exact date a pharmacy dispenses a prescription to a patient. The Date of Fill (DOF) refers to the specific date on which a prescription medication is dispensed to a patient. This term is commonly used in pharmacy practices across the United States and plays a crucial role in managing patient prescriptions and pharmacy inventory.
Quick answers: Every pharmacy claim records a date of fill. Analysts use it alongside NRx, NBRx, and TRx to build prescription trend reports and measure patient adherence.
The Date of Fill is vital in healthcare for several reasons. Firstly, it ensures that patients receive their medications on a timely basis, which is critical for maintaining treatment efficacy and adherence. By tracking the DOF, healthcare providers can monitor patient compliance, identify any potential issues with medication refills, and adjust treatment plans accordingly.
Moreover, the DOF plays a significant role in insurance billing and claims processing. Insurers use the DOF to verify coverage and determine when a patient is eligible for a prescription refill. Effective management of the DOF also aids in preventing prescription drug misuse and supports inventory management in pharmacies.
Date of fill (DOF) is the specific calendar date on which a pharmacy dispenses a prescription medication to a patient. It is recorded in pharmacy claims and patient medication histories.
Pharma and commercial teams use date of fill to measure prescription volume over time, track patient adherence and refill gaps, and analyze trends alongside metrics like [NRx](/glossary/nrx-new-prescription) and [TRx](/glossary/total-prescriptions).
Date of fill is specific to pharmacy dispensing — when the patient picks up or receives the medication. Date of service is a broader term used in medical claims for when any healthcare service was provided.
Each refill generates a new date of fill. Comparing fill dates against the prescribed days' supply reveals whether a patient is refilling on time, early, or late — a key adherence signal.