TITLE 18. PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING

BOARD OF PHARMACY

Agency Decision

Title of Regulation: 18VAC110-20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Pharmacy.

Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.

Name of Petitioner: Bioscript Infusion Services.

Nature of Petitioner's Request: To amend 18VAC110-20-276 to allow remote order processing by technicians outside the physical location of a licensed pharmacy. Currently, pharmacists are allowed to perform prescription processing functions from remote location. Petitioner's request is to allow pharmacy technicians to also process orders under the supervision of a pharmacist under certain conditions as specified in regulation.

Agency Decision: Request denied.

Statement of Reason for Decision: At its meeting on June 16, 2020, the board considered the petition and public comment it received. The board concluded it will not move forward with initiation of rulemaking at this time. However, the matter was referred to the Regulation Committee for further study and recommendation on amendments. The committee is scheduled to meet on November 12, 2020. It was also noted at the meeting on the 16th that a waiver put in place on March 24, 2020, as part of the board's response to the Governor's State of Emergency, allows a pharmacy technician or a pharmacist to access an employer pharmacy's database from a remote location for the purpose of performing certain prescription processing functions provided the pharmacy establishes controls to protect the privacy and security of confidential records.

Agency Contact: Caroline Juran, RPh, Executive Director, Board of Pharmacy, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4456, or email caroline.juran@dhp.virginia.gov.

VA.R. Doc. No. R20-35 Filed June 17, 2020, 3:36 p.m.