# Health Occupations (GHO)

## Title 8. Nurses

### Subtitle 5

#### Section 8-508

(a)

  (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

  (2) "Midwife" means a registered nurse certified as a nurse-midwife or a licensed certified midwife.

  (3) "Nurse practitioner" means a registered nurse who is:

    (i) Certified as a nurse practitioner; and

    (ii) Authorized to prescribe drugs under regulations adopted by the Board.

  (4) "Personally prepare and dispense" means that a nurse practitioner:

    (i) Is physically present on the premises where the prescription is filled; and

    (ii) Performs a final check of the prescription before it is provided to the patient.

  (5) "Starter dosage" means an amount of drug sufficient to begin therapy:

    (i) Of short duration of 72 hours or less; or

    (ii) Prior to obtaining a larger quantity of the drug to complete therapy.

(b) A nurse practitioner or midwife may personally prepare and dispense a starter dosage of any drug the nurse practitioner or midwife is authorized to prescribe to a patient of the nurse practitioner or midwife if:

  (1) The starter dosage complies with the labeling requirements of Sec. 12-505 of this article;

  (2) No charge is made for the starter dosage; and

  (3) The nurse practitioner or midwife enters an appropriate record in the patient's medical record.

(c) In accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this section, a nurse practitioner may personally prepare and dispense any drug that a nurse practitioner may prescribe to the extent permitted by law in the course of treating a patient at:

  (1) A medical facility or clinic that specializes in the treatment of medical cases reimbursable through workers' compensation insurance;

  (2) A medical facility or clinic that is operated on a nonprofit basis;

  (3) A health center that operates on a campus of an institution of higher education;

  (4) A public health facility, a medical facility under contract with a State or local health department, or a facility funded with public funds; or

  (5) A nonprofit hospital or a nonprofit hospital outpatient facility as authorized under the policies established by the hospital.

(d) A nurse practitioner who personally prepares and dispenses a drug in the course of treating a patient as authorized under subsection (c) of this section shall:

  (1) Comply with the labeling requirements of Sec. 12-505 of this article;

  (2) Record the dispensing of the prescription drug on the patient's chart;

  (3) Allow the Office of Controlled Substances Administration to enter and inspect the nurse practitioner's office at all reasonable hours; and

  (4) Except for starter dosages or samples dispensed without charge, provide the patient with a written prescription, maintain prescription files, and maintain a separate file for Schedule II prescriptions for a period of at least 5 years.

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Md. Code Ann., Health Occ. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)