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<section article="gho" article_name="Health Occupations" number="12-102" title_number="12" title_name="Pharmacists and Pharmacies" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Definitions; General Provisions">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“In the public interest” means the dispensing of drugs or devices by a licensed dentist, physician, nurse or midwife, or podiatrist to a patient when a pharmacy is not conveniently available to the patient.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Nurse or midwife” means an individual licensed or certified by the Board of Nursing under Title 8 of this article.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Except as provided in § 15–302.2 of this article, “personally preparing and dispensing” means that the licensed dentist, physician, nurse or midwife, or podiatrist:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Is physically present on the premises where the prescription is filled; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Performs a final check of the prescription before it is provided to the patient.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>This title does not limit the right of an individual to practice a health occupation that the individual is authorized to practice under this article.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>This subsection does not apply to a licensed dentist who obtains a permit from the State Board of Dental Examiners under subsection (h) of this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>This title does not prohibit:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A licensed veterinarian from:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Personally preparing and dispensing the veterinarian’s prescriptions; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Dispensing, in accordance with § 2–313(c) of the Agriculture Article, compounded nonsterile preparations or compounded sterile preparations provided by a pharmacy;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A licensed dentist, physician, or podiatrist from personally preparing and dispensing the dentist’s, physician’s, or podiatrist’s prescriptions when:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>The dentist, physician, or podiatrist:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>Has applied to the board of licensure in this State which licensed the dentist, physician, or podiatrist;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>Has demonstrated to the satisfaction of that board that the dispensing of prescription drugs or devices by the dentist, physician, or podiatrist is in the public interest;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="C">
          <text>Has received a written permit from that board to dispense prescription drugs or devices except that a written permit is not required in order to dispense starter dosages or samples without charge; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="D">
          <text>Posts a sign conspicuously positioned and readable regarding the process for resolving incorrectly filled prescriptions or includes written information regarding the process with each prescription dispensed;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>The person for whom the drugs or devices are prescribed is a patient of the prescribing dentist, physician, or podiatrist;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>The dentist, physician, or podiatrist does not have a substantial financial interest in a pharmacy; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>The dentist, physician, or podiatrist:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>Complies with the dispensing and labeling requirements of this title;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>Records the dispensing of the prescription drug or device on the patient’s chart;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="C">
          <text>Allows the Office of Controlled Substances Administration to enter and inspect the dentist’s, physician’s, or podiatrist’s office at all reasonable hours and in accordance with § 12–102.1 of this subtitle;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="D">
          <text>On inspection by the Office of Controlled Substances Administration, signs and dates an acknowledgment form provided by the Office of Controlled Substances Administration relating to the requirements of this section;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="E">
          <text>Except for starter dosages or samples without charge, provides the patient with a written prescription, maintains prescription files in accordance with § 12–403(c)(13) of this title, and maintains a separate file for Schedule II prescriptions;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="F">
          <text>Does not direct patients to a single pharmacist or pharmacy in accordance with § 12–403(c)(8) of this title;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="G">
          <text>Does not receive remuneration for referring patients to a pharmacist or pharmacy;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="H">
          <text>Complies with the child resistant packaging requirements regarding prescription drugs under Title 22, Subtitle 3 of the Health – General Article;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="I">
          <text>Complies with drug recalls;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="J">
          <text>Maintains biennial inventories and complies with any other federal and State record–keeping requirements relating to controlled dangerous substances;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="K">
          <text>Purchases prescription drugs from a pharmacy or wholesale distributor who holds a permit issued by the Board of Pharmacy, as verified by the Board of Pharmacy;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="L">
          <text>Annually reports to the respective board of licensure whether the dentist, physician, or podiatrist has personally prepared and dispensed prescription drugs within the previous year; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="M">
          <text>Completes ten continuing education credits over a 5–year period relating to the preparing and dispensing of prescription drugs, offered by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) or as approved by the Secretary, in consultation with each respective board of licensure, as a condition of permit renewal;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>A licensed physician from dispensing a topical medication without obtaining the permit required under item (ii)1C of this paragraph or completing the continuing education required under item (ii)4M of this paragraph when the physician:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Otherwise complies with item (ii) of this paragraph; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Has obtained a special written permit under § 14–509 of this article;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>A licensed physician who complies with the requirements of item (ii) of this paragraph from personally preparing and dispensing a prescription written by:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>A physician assistant who complies with Title 15, Subtitle 3 of this article; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>An advanced practice registered nurse with prescriptive authority under Title 8 of this article and is working with the physician in the same office setting;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>A hospital–based clinic from dispensing prescriptions to its patients;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>An individual licensed or certified under Title 8 of this article from personally preparing and dispensing a drug or device as authorized under Title 8 of this article; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vii">
        <text>A health care provider licensed under this article from having an ownership interest in a clinical research pharmacy if:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>The operations of the clinical research pharmacy are limited to the requirements for a clinical research pharmacy permit in § 12–101 of this subtitle;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>A pharmacist licensed under this subtitle:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>Is present on–site during all hours of operation of the clinical research pharmacy; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>Is responsible for all compounding, dispensing, and oversight of pharmacy services; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>Any health care provider with a substantial ownership interest in the clinical research pharmacy does not:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>Direct patients to a single pharmacist or pharmacy in accordance with § 12–403(c)(8) of this title; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>Receive remuneration for referring patients to a pharmacist or pharmacy.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>This title does not prohibit:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>A licensed veterinarian from personally dispensing a drug or device sample to a patient of the veterinarian; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A licensed dentist, licensed physician, or licensed podiatrist from personally dispensing a drug or device sample to a patient of the licensed dentist, licensed physician, or licensed podiatrist if:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The sample complies with the labeling requirements of § 12–505 of this title;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>No charge is made for the sample; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The authorized prescriber enters an appropriate record in the patient’s chart.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>This title does not prohibit:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A dentist, physician, nurse or midwife, or podiatrist from administering a prescription drug or device in the course of treating a patient;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A licensed dental hygienist from administering medication under § 4–206.4 of this article; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>A nurse anesthetist from administering medication under § 8–513 of this article.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>For the purposes of paragraph (1)(i) of this subsection, “administering” means the direct introduction of a single dosage of a drug or device at a given time, whether by injection or other means, and whether in liquid, tablet, capsule, or other form.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>This title does not prohibit a dentist, physician, nurse or midwife, or podiatrist from personally dispensing a starter dosage of a prescription drug or device to a patient of the dentist, physician, nurse or midwife, or podiatrist, provided that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The starter dosage complies with the labeling requirements of § 12–505 of this title;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>No charge is made for the starter dosage; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The dentist, physician, nurse or midwife, or podiatrist enters an appropriate record on the patient’s chart.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>For the purposes of paragraph (1) of this subsection, “starter dosage” means an amount of drug or device sufficient to begin therapy:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Of short duration of 72 hours or less; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Prior to obtaining a larger quantity of the drug or device to complete the therapy.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>This title does not prohibit a dentist, physician, nurse or midwife, or podiatrist from dispensing a prescription drug or device in the course of treating a patient:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>At a medical facility or clinic that is operated on a nonprofit basis;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>At a health center that operates on a campus of an institution of higher education; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>At a public health facility, a medical facility under contract with a State or local health department, or a facility funded with public funds.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>This title does not prohibit a licensed dentist who obtains a permit from the State Board of Dental Examiners that allows the licensed dentist to dispense only prescription strength home fluoride products, dentin/enamel remineralizing products, and antimicrobial rinse from dispensing the product or rinse when:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The product or rinse is dispensed to a patient of the licensed dentist;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The licensed dentist enters an appropriate record in the patient’s chart that the product or rinse was dispensed to the patient; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The licensed dentist affixes a label on the product or rinse container that includes:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The name of the patient; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Unless already printed on the container:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>The expiration date of the product or rinse; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>The instructions for using the product or rinse.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <text>This title does not apply to a person who only dispenses:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Prescription devices that do not contain a prescription drug;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Prescription devices within which the only prescription drug is medical oxygen;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Durable medical equipment, as defined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Prosthetics, orthotics, and related supplies.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="j">
    <text>This title does not prohibit a licensed dentist from dispensing a full course of antibiotics to a patient for infection control if:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The patient is receiving pro bono dental care;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>There is no charge for the antibiotics;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The licensed dentist enters an appropriate record of the treatment in the patient’s chart; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The licensed dentist affixes a label on the antibiotic container that includes:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The name of the patient; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Unless already printed on the container:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>The expiration date of the antibiotic; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>The instructions for taking the antibiotic.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="k">
    <text>This title does not limit the right of a general merchant to sell:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Any nonprescription drug or device;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Any commonly used household or domestic remedy; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Any farm remedy or ingredient for a spraying solution, in bulk or otherwise.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="l">
    <text>The Board of Pharmacy, the Board of Dental Examiners, the Board of Physicians, and the Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners annually shall report to the Office of Controlled Substances Administration:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The names and addresses of its licensees who are authorized to personally prepare and dispense prescription drugs; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The names and addresses of its licensees who have reported, in accordance with subsection (c)(2)(ii)4L of this section, that they have personally prepared and dispensed prescription drugs within the previous year.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="m">
    <text>A dentist, physician, or podiatrist who fails to comply with the provisions of this section governing the dispensing of prescription drugs or devices shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Have the dispensing permit revoked; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Be subject to disciplinary actions by the appropriate licensing board.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
