NY is a mandatory substitution state. Every rx says "this prescription will be filled generically unless prescriber writes DAW in this box." So theoretically, DAW on generic atorvastatin means you can give them whatever. If you give brand name Lipitor, that IS atorvastatin, and satisfies what the prescriber wanted, and satisfies the "unless" clause. Realistically, I doubt that would hold up to an audit, and I would not advise playing that game.
If it was possible that they wanted the brand name, I would probably call to clarify (ie Synthroid, Coumadin, Dilantin). If they've had a generic for years, and it's not one that is usually given DAW (Zestril, Pravachol) and out of the blue comes a DAW rx, it's probably an error. If for some reason it is not, you will likely hear the patient tell you how they were "allergic" to that generic, so the dr is switching them to brand name. The prescriber would not suddenly give DAW Zestril out of the blue without the patient's knowledge/request.
Now the messy one is when they state which generic to give, and put a DAW. "Watson atorvastatin DAW."
