Final answer:
Prescription orders must be retained for 2 years per Federal regulations, for 7 years per Arizona state regulations, and typically 2 years for Medicare unless state laws specify a longer period.
Step-by-step explanation:
The length of time a prescription order must be kept can vary depending on the regulations set forth by different governing bodies. According to Federal requirements, prescription records must be kept for at least 2 years. For the state of Arizona (AZ), prescription orders must be maintained for 7 years. When it comes to Medicare, which introduced the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003 to help the elderly pay for their medication, the records must generally be retained for a period consistent with federal requirements, which is 2 years. However, it is always advised to consult current state and federal regulations as these rules can change.
Regarding the options provided: (a) 1 year, 2 years, 3 years (b) 2 years, 3 years, 4 years (c) 3 years, 4 years, 5 years (d) 5 years, 1 year, 6 years, none directly match the current federal and AZ state requirements. The correct retention periods are 2 years federally, 7 years for Arizona, and usually 2 years for Medicare unless state laws require longer.