The Board of Pharmacy issued the following updates on January 11.
- Emergency Contraceptive (EC) Dispensing Report: Any EC dispensed pursuant to the standing order within a calendar year (January 1 – December 31) must be reported using the Annual Emergency Contraception Standing Order Report.
- Policy 2024-01 Naloxone Dispensing: Reviews the dispensing of over-the-counter (OTC) naloxone.
- Policy 2019-02 Automated Dispensing Device Use: Information for Hospice Inpatient Facility acute use was added.
- Policy 2018-01 Permitted Prescription Changes and Additions: Flavoring agent information was added.
- 247 CMR 22.00: Monetary Penalties: Draft Regulation.
The Board also sent a reminder to community pharmacies that the Board regulations require all community pharmacies to provide non-sterile compounding services to their customers. It has come to the Board’s attention that some pharmacies have discontinued their non-sterile compounding services. The Board cited the two regulations below that require this practice to be available; see below. The Board urged any pharmacy that has any questions about these regulations to contact them. The Board is discussing the need for further Board guidance on this issue, which they expect to discuss at a future meeting.
- 247 CMR 6.02: Conditions for Continuing Registration and Operation of a Pharmacy or Pharmacy Department
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- (4) The pharmacy or pharmacy department shall maintain on the premises at all times a sufficient variety and supply of medicinal chemicals and preparations which are necessary to compound and dispense commonly prescribed medications in accordance with the usual needs of the community.
- 247 CMR 9.01: Code of Professional Conduct for Registered Pharmacists, Pharmacies and Pharmacy Departments
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- (16) A pharmacist shall not refuse to compound customary pharmaceutical preparations except upon extenuating circumstances.
Also in Massachusetts, on January 10, the Public Health Council voted to make permanent the current emergency regulations at 105 CMR 700.004 (15) that authorize pharmacists to prescribe and dispense certain hormonal contraceptives. The Department of Public Health and the Council did not make any changes to the original emergency regulations. As a result, there will be no change to the current practice in this area.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.