Ala. Admin. Code r. 680-X-2-.49

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 680-X-2-.49 - Remote Work by Pharmacists

(1)Definitions

(a) "Final product verification" means the process by which a pharmacist validates the accuracy of a final prescription product prior to providing to a patient or patient representative

(b) "Remote pharmacy work" means performing the practice of pharmacy while not physically located within a permitted pharmacy or facility

(c) "Physical acts in the dispensing process" means:

1. the storing, packaging, and/or labeling of prescription drugs

2. final product verification

(2)General Requirements

(a) Remote pharmacy work may be performed by a pharmacist who is an employee of one of the following:

1. A pharmacy or facility permitted by the Alabama Board of Pharmacy;

2. A facility regulated by the Alabama Department of Public Health;

3. A facility regulated by the Alabama Department of Insurance; or

4. A physician's office

(b) Pharmacists are allowed to perform remote pharmacy work in a location that is equipped with secure access to the above entity's information system. A remote site does not include a site outside the United States/United States territories.

(c) Remote pharmacists shall establish controls to protect the confidentiality and integrity of protected health information by complying with both the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act

(d) Remote pharmacists shall ensure that they are able to perform at the same level of competence, attention, and proficiency as if they were physically present in the above entity and comply with all applicable state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.

(e) If a pharmacist is no longer an employee of the entity as listed in subsection 2(a), he/she shall no longer have access to the entity's information system or be able to perform remote pharmacy work for that employer.

(3)Prohibited Activities

(a) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize final product verification or dispensing of a prescription from a location outside of or other than a permitted pharmacy with the exception of immunizations.

(b) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize a pharmacist to perform physical acts in the dispensing process from a location outside of or other than a permitted pharmacy.

(c) Nothing in this subsection permits hard copy prescriptions to be received outside of the premises of a permitted pharmacy.

(d) No part of the facility's database may be physically or electronically duplicated, downloaded, transferred, or removed from the electronic database.

(e) Nothing in this subsection shall permit a pharmacist to perform remote pharmacy work for more than one location of a permitted pharmacy, facility, or entity without prior compliance with Board Rule 680-X-2-.39.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 680-X-2-.49

Adopted by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XLI, Issue No. 12, September 29, 2023, eff. 11/13/2023.

Author: Alabama State Board of Pharmacy

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-23-30.