When must a skilled nursing facility hold a valid DEA registration according to the regulations?

The correct answer is that a skilled nursing facility must hold a valid DEA registration for emergency stock only. This is because skilled nursing facilities are allowed to maintain a limited supply of controlled substances to manage emergency situations where immediate medication is necessary for patient care. The DEA regulations specify that facilities need to be registered to dispense controlled substances, but this registration is particularly necessary for handling emergency stock.

In the context of skilled nursing facilities, while they may dispense or administer medications as part of their routine operations, such as for chronic management of patients, that does not require a separate DEA registration under typical circumstances unless they intend to engage in specific practices like dispensing controlled substances in a large capacity. Therefore, the option regarding emergency stock appropriately aligns with the need for a valid DEA registration for compliance with federal regulations pertaining to controlled substances.