Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with house amendments and pass a bill that establishes remote pharmacy locations.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the board of directors of a pharmacy to regulate, control, and inspect the character and standards of the pharmacy, prescribe minimum criteria for the use of professional and technical equipment, and grant pharmacy licenses for each separate place of practice (Sec. 17722).

• Specifies that the board may require an applicant or holder for a pharmacy license to fully disclose the identity of each partner, stockholder, officer,  manufacturer, or wholesale distributor (Sec. 17742).

• Specifies that a pharmacist at a parent pharmacy may only oversee the activities at a remote pharmacy if they have access to all relevant patient information (Sec. 17742).

• Requires the pharmacist in charge of a remote pharmacy to display at the remote pharmacy location a notice visible to the public that provides the following information (Sec. 17742):

• That the pharmacy services are provided at a remote location;

• That if patient counseling is provided it may be provided using audio or video communication; and

• The address of the parent pharmacy.

• Defines “parent pharmacy” as a pharmacy that operates a remote pharmacy through a telepharmacy system (Sec. 17707).

• Defines the “practice of pharmacy” as the following, including (Sec. 17707):

• The interpretation and evaluation of prescription;

• Drug product selection;

• The compounding, dispensing, safe storage, and distribution of drugs and devices;

• The maintenance of legally required records; and

• Advising the prescriber and the patient as required including adverse reactions or interactions of drugs.

• Defines “telepharmacy system” as an interoperable computer system that meets the following requirements, including (Sec. 17709):

• Shares real-time data and uses a real-time audio and video link to connect a pharmacist at a parent pharmacy; and

• Uses a camera that is of sufficient quality to allow a pharmacist and a parent pharmacy who is receiving a prescription to visually identify the markings.

Full Bill Text