If a patient wants to increase a refill from 30 to 90 tablets, does the pharmacist need to call the doctor?

If a patient requests an increase in the refill quantity from 30 to 90 tablets, it is generally not necessary for the pharmacist to contact the doctor. This is because refills can be authorized within the limits prescribed initially, as long as the original prescription and dosage are being followed.

For non-controlled substances, the pharmacist has the discretion to provide refills up to the maximum allowable supply, which often doesn't require additional authorization from the prescriber unless the dosage form or strength has changed or if there is a need for clinical evaluation. The request for an increase in the quantity of medication can typically be fulfilled as long as it adheres to the prescribing guidelines and the pharmacist's professional judgment supports it.

In the case of controlled substances, there would indeed be restrictions around what a pharmacist can dispense without consulting a physician, but since the question does not specify that the medication is a controlled substance, the pharmacist can process the request for a larger quantity without needing to reach out to the prescriber. Therefore, the answer is that no call to the doctor is necessary in this situation.