The US Food and Drug Administration is warning the public about criminals posing as FDA special agents and other law enforcement personnel as part of an international extortion scam. For more information, read the FDA news release....

On December 11, 2009, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) reached a bitter-sweet milestone in its ongoing review of Web sites selling prescription medications. NABP now lists more than 5,000 Internet drug outlets as Not Recommended. These sites...

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) welcomes Office of National Drug Control Policy drug policy expert Kevin Sabet to speak at its 2009 Symposium. On December 3, 2009, Sabet will discuss the current federal laws regarding marijuana as...

NABP Symposium Provided Attendees Opportunity to Discuss Medical Marijuana and Public-Private Partnerships The NABP Symposium held December 3-4 in Tucson, AZ provided approximately 120 attendees with opportunities for education and discussion on the topics of the legalization of medical marijuana...

Published in the December 2009 Vermont Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Vermont pharmacists are the stewards of prescription medications, essentially providing the role of “police” for the state’s prescription medication supply. Just as police officers should know and understand the laws...

Published in the December 2009 Vermont Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The Board has received several inquiries about what training is necessary for pharmacists to give immunizations. Read Board Rule 9.34 carefully. In addition to an accredited training course on immunizations,...

Published in the December 2009 New Mexico Board of Pharmacy Newsletter During the October 19-20, 2009 Board meeting, the following five regulation changes were made: 1. The definition of practitioner was amended in Regulation 20 – Controlled Substances, section 16.19.20.8.D...

Published in the December 2009 Idaho State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter As per statute 54-1755(1)(b), “The board shall determine by July 1, 2009, a targeted implementation date for electronic track and trace pedigree technology. . . The implementation date ....

Published in the December 2009 Idaho State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Pursuant to 2010 statute changes (please refer to the September 2009 Newsletter), a series of rule changes were approved as temporary by Governor C.L. Otter on September 3, 2009, with...

Published in the December 2009 Idaho State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Pursuant to the additional conditions of rule #257.02, “for the limited purpose of ensuring that drugs or devices are attainable to meet the immediate needs of patients and residents of...

Published in the December 2009 Kansas State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter On November 13, 2009, an amendment to K.A.R. 68-20-16 related to controlled substance inventories became effective. The regulation will now require an inventory of all controlled substances to be...

Published in the December 2009 Delaware State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The Delaware State Board of Pharmacy, in accordance with 24 Del. C. §2509, amended pharmacy regulations associated with Pharmacist Licensure Requirements, Pharmacy Requirements, Dispensing, Pharmaceutical Services in Nursing Homes...

Proposed Placement of Carisoprodol Into Schedule IV The Deputy Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) issued a proposed rule to place the substance carisoprodol into Schedule IV of the Controlled Substance Act. This proposed rule is based on a...

CDC Alerts Practitioners to Key Issues Concerning Treatment With Antivirals The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that while use of influenza antiviral drugs has increased, not all people recommended for treatment are receiving it. CDC emphasizes that...

Published in the November 2009 Ohio State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) compiles statistics on many different health-related topics every year and tries to monitor trends so that action can be taken when needed. Just...

Published in the November 2009 Missouri Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The Board continues to see noncompliance issues relating to technician registrations. The pharmacist-in-charge (PIC) should ensure that all technicians are properly registered. Pharmacies cannot employ a technician whose name appears...

Published in the November 2009 Ohio State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter We have been receiving a large number of calls from or about technicians. Please remember that in Ohio, technicians are not required to be licensed, registered, or certified. However,...

Published in the November 2009 Alabama State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter 680-X-2-.14 The Role of Technicians in Pharmacies in Alabama (3) It is ruled by the Board of Pharmacy that three (3) technicians, one of which shall be certified through...

Published in the November 2009 Alabama State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter A new law authorizes qualified, approved physician assistants (PAs) to prescribe controlled substances in Schedules III, IV, and V. The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners is in the process...

NABP 2009 Symposium Addresses Legalization of Medical Marijuana and the Benefits of Public-Private Partnerships The NABP 2009 Symposium, to be held December 3-4, 2009 in Tucson, AZ, will bring attendees together to discuss the legalization of medical marijuana, a timely...

In October 2009, President Obama signed into law a bill that delayed the requirement for pharmacies to obtain DMEPOS accreditation – the deadline for accreditation was extended to January 1, 2010. The bill delayed the requirement that requires DMEPOS accreditation...

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) welcomes Office of National Drug Control Policy drug policy expert Kevin Sabet to speak at its 2009 Symposium. On December 3, 2009, Sabet will discuss the current federal laws regarding marijuana as...

Legislation Extending CMS DMEPOS Deadline Passed by House and Senate Recent legislation that passed through the House and Senate will extend the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) accreditation deadline for...

Reprinted from the October 2009 North Carolina Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. Board staff occasionally are asked about the legitimacy of prescriptions for controlled substances written by a clinical pharmacist practitioner (CPP). There are typically two questions asked: 1. May a...

Published in the October 2009 Washington State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter At the September 17, 2009 Washington State Board of Pharmacy meeting, the Board changed rules to add the drug carisoprodol to Schedule IV controlled substances. After considering evidence and...

Reprinted from the October 2009 New Jersey Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. Senate Bill 906 was signed into law on July 31, 2009, and becomes effective January 27, 2010. Section 10 of P.L.1977, c.240 (C.24:6E-9) was amended to read as follows:...

Published in the October 2009 South Dakota State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The next South Dakota State Board of Pharmacy meeting is scheduled for December 11 in Sioux Falls, SD. Board meetings are open to the public. Pharmacists are encouraged...

Reprinted from the October 2009 Minnesota Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. A large number of bills related to the profession of pharmacy or to pharmaceutical manufacturers were introduced this past session. Descriptions of some of the provisions that were enacted into...

Reprinted from the October 2009 Minnesota Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. The Minnesota Legislature passed a law in 2007 requiring the Board of Pharmacy to establish a controlled substances prescription electronic reporting system for all Schedule II and III controlled substance...

Reprinted from the October 2009 Nevada State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. 1. Computer-generated prescriptions that are either printed or faxed must be signed by the practitioner. If the printed and signed prescription is to be given to the patient to...

Reprinted from the October 2009 Nevada State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. Two bothersome issues with potential detrimental consequences need your attention. The first has to do with the fact than many of you have been using a bogus Drug Enforcement...

Reprinted from the October 2009 Nevada State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. The 75th Session of the Nevada Legislature proved to be very busy for the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy with health care and medication management always being popular topics....

Reprinted from the October 2009 Montana Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. Dear Montana Pharmacists, On October 1, a new law went into effect that will help cancer patients get cancer drugs they cannot afford, help cancer centers better treat patients, and...

Reprinted from the October 2009 Montana Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. Lang Lang, Pharmacy Intern Zipsor™ is the new diclofenac potassium capsule with a liquid filled center. The manufacture of Zipsor, Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Inc,1 stated that compared to a placebo, Zipsor...

Published in the October 2009 South Dakota State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter ARSD 20:51:06:06 Transfer of Pharmacy Registration The transfer of responsibility for active management of the pharmacy requires an application be filed with the secretary of the Board. There...

ASTHO Document Helps Health Departments Partner With Pharmacies Administering the 2009 H1N1 Vaccine The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) released and distributed to state and territorial health officers the final version of “An Operational Framework for Partnering...

DMEPOS suppliers that become accredited after September 1, 2009, should complete section 2G of the CMS 855S enrollment form to notify the National Supplier Clearinghouse (NSC) of their accreditation information. Suppliers accredited before August 31, 2009, are not required to...

Contact Test Security: NABP's Tip Site Accepts Reports of Testing Violations NABP examinations are administered under strict security measures, and information on suspected examination irregularities, acts of unethical behavior, and breaches of security can be reported on NABP’s examination tip...

Published in the September 2009 Vermont Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The Vermont Department of Health, Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs’ Web site for the Vermont Prescription Monitoring Program is up and running. The Vermont Prescription Monitoring System (VPMS)...

Published in the September 2009 Vermont Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to address illegal diversion of prescription drugs through the Internet. It was signed into...

Published in the September 2009 Vermont Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Since 2003, Vermont law has required that all pharmacy technicians in Vermont be registered with the Board of Pharmacy. By definition, “a ‘pharmacy technician’ is an individual who performs tasks...

Published in the September 2009 Vermont Board of Pharmacy Newsletter As mentioned in the Board’s last Newsletter, the mandate to inventory all hydrocodone products was removed from the proposed rules. The Board decided to make inventorying all hydrocodone products a...

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) 2009 Symposium will offer attendees the unique opportunity to collaborate with their peers while interactively exploring timely topics related to the legalization of medical marijuana and opportunities in public-private partnerships. This one-and-a-half...

Published in the September 2009 Kentucky Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Most alcoholics start drinking during their teen years, but the disease can also strike those who begin using alcohol at a younger age – and experts say the problem often...

Published in the September 2009 Kentucky Board of Pharmacy Newsletter In recent years, drug manufacturers have been introducing a class of products to the market known as “authorized generics”; these products represent previously “brand name” medications from the original brand...

Published in the September 2009 Kentucky Board of Pharmacy Newsletter In 1998, Congress passed a public law regulating clinical laboratory procedures. This law applies to labs, physician offices, and pharmacies that perform testing of materials derived from the human body...

Publishe in the September 2009 Idaho State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Telepharmacy Across State Lines Statute 54-1705 was amended to read, “(22) ‘Pharmacist’ means an individual licensed by this state to engage in the practice of pharmacy or a pharmacist...

Published in the September 2009 New Mexico Board of Pharmacy Newsletter NMAC 16.19.8, Wholesale Prescription Drug Distribution: On June 30, 2009, the Board adopted a significant number of changes to Rule 8. The changes were in line with most of...

Published in the September 2009 Kansas State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter In July 2008, the Board of Pharmacy began requiring each retail pharmacy to establish a continuous quality improvement (CQI) program. Hospital pharmacies are exempt from establishing a CQI because...

Published in the September 2009 Delaware State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Refilling Controlled Substance Prescriptions Early The Board office has recently had numerous calls related to the early refilling of controlled substance prescriptions. There is no easy way to determine...

Published in the September 2009 Delaware State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The Board is still seeing noncompliant prescriptions written by Delaware practitioners. As you are aware, on June 20, 2002, House Bill 522 was signed into law. This law changed...

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) applauds LegitScript and KnujOn for spotlighting the exploitation of search engines’ advertising programs by rogue Internet drug outlets. Their report “Analysis of Yahoo! Prescription Drug Sponsored Search Results,” released on August 18,...

LegitScript, KnujOn Spotlight Exploitation of Internet Ad Programs NABP issued a public statement on August 18, 2009, applauding LegitScript and KnujOn for spotlighting the exploitation of search engines’ advertising programs by rogue Internet drug outlets. Their August 18 report, “Analysis of...

Report Calls on Microsoft to Ban Ads for Rogue Internet Drug Outlets on Bing.comOn August 4, 2009, LegitScript and KnujOn released the first in a series of reports about United States companies that facilitate, and profit from, the illicit sale...

Published in the August 2009 Ohio State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Also effective on June 21, 2009, was rule 4729-37-07 (frequency requirements for submitting drug database information). This rule was discussed in some detail in the May issue of this...

Published in the August 2009 Oregon State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The February 2009 Newsletter carried an article titled, No. 448: License Fee Increases Proposed for 2009-2011 Budget. For the 2009-2011 biennium, the Oregon State Board of Pharmacy proposed a...

Published in the August 2009 Ohio State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Also on June 21, 2009, revised rules 4729-5-36 (course requirements in the administration of immunizations) and 4729-5-37 (protocols for the administration of immunizations) and new rule 4729-5-38 (immunization administration)...

Published in the August 2009 Ohio State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter On June 21, 2009, three rules dealing with pharmacy technicians became effective. They are rules 4729-4-01 (definitions), 4729-4-03 (qualified pharmacy technician training program), and rule 4729-4-04 (criminal records check...

Published in the August 2009 Oregon State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The February 2009 Board of Pharmacy Newsletter carried Item No. 450: Duty to Report, in which the pharmacist’s duty to report suspected violations of pharmacy laws or rules was...

Published in the August 2009 Oregon State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The question of whether or not pharmacists are allowed to take breaks during the workday for meals and other necessities has been one of much discussion over the years....

Published in the August 2009 Oregon State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Cases numbered 09-0049 and 09-0219, presented during the Board’s June 2009 meeting, demonstrate a recurring, but easily preventable, dispensing error. A patient who arrived at the drivethrough window was...

Published in the August 2009 Missouri Board of Pharmacy Newsletter In 2008, the United States Congress enacted the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act, which amended the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) by adding several new provisions to prevent the...

Published in the August 2009 Missouri Board of Pharmacy Newsletter On April 28, 2009, the United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the US Food and Drug Administration launched an initiative to help ensure the safe...

NABP Position Statement Provides Guidelines for Medication Collection Programs NABP has issued a position statement to provide guidelines to assist the boards of pharmacy in developing medication collection programs. The statement addresses the question of whether prescription medications, in the...

OpSec Security Identifies Trends of Increased Illicit Drug Trade OnlineA study by OpSec Security, Inc, reveals an increase in illicit sales of bulk pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients by trade board sellers over the Internet. The two-year study, released June...

Published in the July 2009 Washington State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter To access the full text of the following bills, visit http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/. SHB 1041 Occupational Therapy Medications Occupational therapists may purchase, store, and administer topical and transdermal prescription medications used...

Reprinted from the July 2009 North Carolina Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. During the H1N1 influenza virus scare this spring, Board staff worked with North Carolina Public Health Preparedness and Response to communicate information to pharmacists in a timely fashion. As...

Reprinted from the July 2009 North Carolina Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. As previously reported, in June 2008, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) proposed a rule that would permit electronic prescribing for all schedules of controlled substances. The public comment period...

Reprinted from the July 2009 New Jersey Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. The Board recently received an inquiry regarding the authority of nurses in assisted living facilities to telephone pharmacies with verbal prescription orders taken from the prescriber. N.J.A.C. 13:39-7.10 lists...

Published in the July 2009 Washington State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Washington’s universal childhood vaccine purchase program changes July 1, 2009. This is due to budget cuts in the state 2009-2011 biennium. The budget directs the department to discontinue state...

Published in the July 2009 South Dakota State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter As of June 1, 2009, there were 227 pharmacies in South Dakota operating with full-time permits. Counties with the most full-time pharmacies are Minnehaha (53) and Pennington (25)....

Reprinted from the July 2009 Minnesota Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. The Minnesota Department of Health is requesting the assistance of Minnesota community pharmacies in updating the directory of participating pharmacies with the Minnesota Pharmacy Syringe Access Initiative (SAI). As you...

Reprinted from the July 2009 Nevada State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. Effective July 1, 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Amendments Act of 2007 mandates that pharmacies must provide the patient, on all new and refill prescriptions, with the...

Reprinted from the July 2009 Nevada State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. The Board office is constantly fielding questions from both prescribers and pharmacists regarding computer-generated prescriptions in one form or another. Hopefully the following will clarify some of the confusion:...

Reprinted from the July 2009 Montana Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. Hi and best wishes to all, First, I would like to let you all know that the new Web site is up and running for the Board of Pharmacy, and...

Reprinted from the July 2009 Montana Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. Whenever there is a change of pharmacist-in-charge of a pharmacy, the departing pharmacist must notify the Board of Pharmacy of the termination of their services. The pharmacy must designate a...

Published in the July 2009 Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Committees on remote order entry, collaborative drug therapy, and long-term care emergency boxes have been established to promulgate rules that will be submitted to the Board for consideration later...

Arizona Health Associations Sue State for Regulatory Board Funding Thirteen health professional associations in Arizona are suing the state’s governor and treasurer for essentially transferring the state's regulatory boards' operating budgets to the state’s general fund. The regulatory boards, including...

URGENT — Special e-News Alert:FDA Urges Pharmacies, Wholesalers to Stop Dispensing, Distributing Insulin Product, as Improper Product Storage Poses Patient Safety RiskStolen Insulin Vials Resurface in US MarketStolen vials of the long-acting insulin Levemir® made by Novo Nordisk Inc have...

Four Deaths, 162 Illnesses Linked to Contaminated Syringes Four deaths and 162 illnesses nationwide have been linked to a contaminated lot of syringes made in a North Carolina plant called AM2PAT, the Chicago Tribune reported on June 7, 2009. Food and...

Published in the June 2009 Delaware State Board of Pharmacy News The Delaware State Board of Pharmacy has received a number of questions regarding the rules and requirements for the administration of injectable medications. As a review, please see the...

Published in the June 2009 Kansas State Board of Pharmacy newsletter The 2009 Legislative Session produced several changes to the Kansas Pharmacy Act. Senate Bill (SB) 248 was amended into SB 33 creating a statewide electronic logging system for the...

Published in the June 2009 Kansas State Board of Pharmacy newsletter In July 2008, KSA 65-1695 began requiring each pharmacy to establish a continuous quality improvement (CQI) program. Effective April 10, 2009, KAR 68-19-1 required that each CQI program meet...

Published in the June 2009 Kentucky Board of Pharmacy Newsletter On June 6, 2008, 201 KAR 2:300 regarding common database became law. Common database means information shared among pharmacists and pharmacies for the purpose of dispensing medications or providing other forms...

Published in the June 2009 Idaho State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The following is a summary of 2009’s changes to IDAPA 27.01.01, which are now in effect. For a full version of the text changes, please visit our Web site....

Published in the June 2009 Kentucky Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The June 2002 Board Newsletter stated that the Board will require that every Kentucky-licensed pharmacist shall successfully complete a continuing education program of not less than one contact hour (0.1...

Published in the June 2009 Kentucky Board of Pharmacy Newsletter It is estimated that 7.8% of the population in the United States has diabetes. There is a substantial amount of education on this disease and its symptoms and complications in...

Published in the June 2009 New Mexico Board of Pharmacy News. New Mexico had the second highest drug-induced death rate in the US in 2005 with 20.9 deaths per 100,000 persons compared to the national rate of 11.2 per 100,000....

Published in the June 2009 Delaware State Board of Pharmacy News As a reminder, controlled substance inventories must be taken at least biennially after the initial inventory is taken. The biennial inventory may be taken on any date that is...

NABP 2009-2010 Executive Committee Inaugurated at 105th Annual Meeting Delegates to the NABP 105th Annual Meeting, held May 16-19, 2009, in Miami, FL, elected individuals to fill the president-elect, treasurer, and open member positions on the Association’s 2009-2010 Executive Committee....

Delegates from the member boards of pharmacy adopted seven resolutions during the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) 105th Annual Meeting, held May 16-19, 2009, in Miami, FL. The resolutions addressed such timely issues as national standards for pharmacy...

Gary A. Schnabel, RN, RPh, Oregon pharmacist, began his term as president of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP® ) during the Final Business Session of the Association’s 105th Annual Meeting, May 16-19, 2009, in Miami, FL. During...

Joseph L. Adams, RPh, was elected to serve a three-year member term, representing District 6, on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) during the Association’s 105th Annual Meeting, May 16-19, 2009, in Miami, FL....

Malcolm J. Broussard, RPh, was elected to serve as the 2009-2010 treasurer of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) during the Association’s 105th Annual Meeting, May 16-19, 2009, in Miami, FL. Prior to the election, Mr Broussard was...

Delegates to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) 105th Annual Meeting, held May 16-19, 2009, in Miami, FL, elected individuals to fill the president-elect, treasurer, and open member positions on the Association’s 2009-2010 Executive Committee. The newly elected...

Each year the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) Executive Committee selects an individual to serve as its honorary president for the coming year. NABP is pleased to announce that Lydia Main, RPh, has been awarded this honor for...

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) honored leaders in the protection of public health at the Association’s 105th Annual Meeting, held May 16-19, 2009, in Miami, FL. Each year, the Association presents awards to individuals who have worked...

Cathryn J. Lew, RPh, was re-elected to serve a three-year member term, representing District 7, on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) during the Association’s 105th Annual Meeting in Miami, FL. A member of...

Rich Palombo, RPh, immediate past president of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®), assumed the office of chairperson of the Association’s 2009-2010 Executive Committee during the Final Business Session of the NABP 105th Annual Meeting held May 16-19,...

William T. Winsley, MS, RPh, was elected to serve as the 2009-2010 president-elect of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) during the Association’s 105th Annual Meeting, May 16-19, 2009, in Miami, FL. Prior to the election, Mr Winsley...

Resolution No. 105-7-09 Title: Recognition Resolution Action: Passed Whereas, the individuals listed here have made significant contributions to NABP, the protection of the public health, and the profession of pharmacy: Eugene L. “Gene” Argo (GA) Jack B. Carson (VA) Thomas...

Resolution No. 105-6-09 Title: Develop a Task Force to Research Various PMP Programs and Recommend Standards or Model Rules Action: Passed Whereas, there is an identified need to standardize prescription monitoring programs (PMP); and Whereas, many of the state boards...

Resolution No. 105-5-09 Title: Board of Pharmacy Approval of Pharmacy Technician Educational and Training Programs Action: Passed Whereas, new pharmacy technician educational and training programs are being established in community colleges and trade schools across the country; and Whereas, no...

Resolution No. 105-4-09 Title: Defining “Administrative Officer” Action: Passed Whereas, the term “administrative officer” is used in the NABP Constitution and Bylaws to broadly define the executive director or chief administrative officer or chief executive officer of a member board;...

Resolution No. 105-3-09 Title: Valid Patient-Practitioner Relationships Action: Passed Whereas, NABP is aware of an increase in concern and actual deaths resulting from orders for prescription drugs being issued and dispensed without a valid patient-practitioner relationship; and Whereas, data compiled...

Resolution No. 105-2-09 Title: Over-prescribing and Excessive Use of Controlled Substances and Other Prescription Medications Action: Passed Whereas, state boards of pharmacy are aware that prescription medications, including controlled substances, are being over-prescribed and used excessively, contributing to access and...

Resolution No. 105-1-09 Title: Electronic Prescribing – Software Standards and Data Storage Action: Passed Whereas, the electronic transmission of prescriptions and prescription data can improve the communication between pharmacists and other health care practitioners; and Whereas, the use of electronic...

Resolution No.: Title: Researching the Development of an Ethics Course for Licensees Action: Failed Whereas, often, through patient complaints and subsequent board investigations, incidents of unethical behavior are discovered; and Whereas, such incidents may not technically be violations of state...

NABP Position Paper Calls for Action Against Proliferation of Rogue Internet Drug Outlets NABP released a position paper on May 5, 2009, examining the flagrant lawlessness of Web sites selling prescription medicine over the Internet. “To see why this ‘wild...

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) announced today that the first Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites™ (Vet-VIPPS™) accreditation has been awarded to VetRxDirect, Inc. Online veterinary pharmacy practice sites that obtain Vet-VIPPS accreditation exhibit their willingness to operate...

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) released a position paper on May 5, 2009, examining the flagrant lawlessness of Web sites selling prescription medicine over the Internet. “To see why this ‘wild west’ of an electronic marketplace is...

Published in the May 2009 Ohio State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter In March, we sent out a request for information and a warning about the newest drug scam involving prescriptions issued by Florida doctors for Ohio individuals. We sent an...

Published in the May 2009 Ohio State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter If you are responsible for your pharmacy’s reporting process to the Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System (OARRS) program (the Board’s prescription monitoring program), please be sure you make note...

Published in the May 2009 Missouri Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Beginning January 1, 2009, Missouri law requires that any business entity that engages in retail sales or pays taxable wages to employees must provide a “no tax due letter” from...

Published in the May 2009 Missouri Board of Pharmacy Newsletter As part of a program initiated in 2003, the Board continues to test drug preparations compounded by pharmacies. Preparations are collected by inspectors and sent to certified laboratories for potency...

Published in the May 2009 Missouri Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Due to a change in Missouri law, fictitious names filed with the Missouri Secretary of State now expire five years from the date they were filed. If you filed a...

Published in the May 2009 Missouri Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Pain is the most common reason Americans seek medical attention. In 2005, three of every 10 Missourians reported that pain made it hard to do self-care, work, or recreation during...

Health Care Community on Alert as Swine Flu Concerns Rise in USThe federal government has declared a public health emergency, as the number of confirmed human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) in the United States has risen to at...

Nominees for the NABP Executive Committee State their Positions More information about the NABP Executive Committee nominees is now available. For insight into the candidates' positions and what experience the candidates will bring to the 2009-2010 NABP Executive Committee, see...

Are You Sure You Know the Law? (09-04-319) Published in the April 2009 Louisiana Board of Pharmacy Newsletter We continue to receive a number of complaints against pharmacists alleging improper generic substitution. In particular, some of these complaints involve documented...

The Task Force on Uniform Prescription Labeling Requirements met December 6, 2008. Task force members reviewed their charge and accepted it as follows: Evaluate current state and federal laws and regulations addressing prescription label format and content. Review the results...

The Task Force to Review TOEFL iBT Score Requirements met October 28-29, 2008 Task force members reviewed their charge and accepted it as follows: Review and analyze the present passing standard for the speaking portion of the TOEFL iBT recognized...

The Task Force on Medication Collection Programs met December 6-7, 2008. Task force members reviewed their charge and accepted it as follows: Evaluate the status of medication collection programs throughout the country. Review state and federal laws and regulations,...

The Task Force to Review Accreditation Standards for Community Pharmacy met October 28-29, 2008. Task force members reviewed their charge and accepted it as follows: The task force will review possible community pharmacy practice accreditation standards and recommend standards for...

The Committee on Law Enforcement/Legislation met January 20-21, 2009. Committee members reviewed their charge and accepted it as follows: Review and comment on existing legislation and rules for the practice of pharmacy, legal distribution of drugs, and related areas within...

The Task Force on Standardized Pharmacy Technician Education and Training met September 9-10, 2008. Task force members reviewed their charge and accepted it as follows: Review and analyze the present state requirements for pharmacy technician licensure, registration, and certification. Review...

The 2008-2009 Committee on Constitution and Bylaws met on April 7, 2009. The committee reviewed its charge as stated in the NABP Constitution and Bylaws. No additions or changes were proposed. Therefore, the charge reads as follows: Article VI –...

Technician Education Task Force and LE/L Committee Reports Posted The NABP Executive Committee has reviewed the recommendations of the following 2008-2009 task force and committee. The reports are posted under News/Press on the NABP Web site. Task Force on Standardized...

Published in the April 2009 Washington State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Washington State residents passed Initiative Measure 1000 in November 2008. The initiative, known as the Death with Dignity Act (Chapter 70.245 RCW), allows competent adult residents to request and...

Reprinted from the April 2009 Montana Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. Submitted by Amber Anderson, PharmD Candidate February 23, 2009 Drug repositories specific to cancer medications and devices have been in place throughout the United States since Nebraska created the original...

Reprinted from the April 2009 North Carolina Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. The Pharmacy Practice Act provides: A prescription for a narrow therapeutic index drug shall be refilled using only the same drug product by the same manufacturer that the pharmacist...

Reprinted from the April 2009 North Carolina Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. A Board member recently received a question from a friend about how to properly measure a dose of Vitamin B12 solution for injection. Directions for the patient were to...

Reprinted from the April 2009 North Carolina Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. Pharmacists in the state are aware that the General Assembly enacted a Controlled Substance Reporting System in 2006, and that the system has been operative for over a year....

Reprinted from the April 2009 North Carolina Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. (Editor’s note: Board staff thanks Nancy Hemphill, special projects coordinator, North Carolina Medical Board, for authoring this item.) The North Carolina Medical Board is frequently asked whether a physician...

Reprinted from the April 2009 Nevada State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. Although buprenorphine is not approved for use in pain, pharmacists are seeing an increasing number of prescriptions for this use. Rather than prescribed as a daily dose for addiction,...

Reprinted from the April 2009 Minnesota Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. During the 2006 legislative session, health licensing boards were directed to remind licensees, at least annually, of the price disclosure requirements of section Minnesota Statutes 62J.052 or 151.214, as applicable....

Reprinted from the April 2009 Nevada State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. Your patients need to hear and understand what you are saying and you need to hear what the patient is both saying and not saying. Breakdown of communication between...

Reprinted from the April 2009 Nevada State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. At the request of Board staff, the Board of Pharmacy has created a “Pharmaceutical Technician Advisory Committee” made up of pharmacy technicians from various practice arenas and parts of...

Introduced by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) in February 1999, the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites™ (VIPPS®) program celebrates 10 years of protecting patients. The VIPPS program enables consumers to confidently access important information regarding the licensure...

ACPE Cautions Boards Against Commercially Motivated Continuing Education  The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) issued a letter on March 12, 2009, advising the state boards of pharmacy to disallow non-ACPE-approved continuing pharmacy education (CPE) that is commercial in nature...

Setting the stage for “NABP MIAMI: It’s Hot! Hot! Hot!,” the pre-meeting continuing pharmacy education (CPE) session “Maxims, Monarchy, and Sir Thomas More,” will offer attendees an entertaining and educational start to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®)...

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) is one of only 21 organizations nationally to receive an Award of Excellence in the first round of the 2009 Associations Advance America (AAA) Awards program, a national competition sponsored by the...

NABP Executive Committee OKs Task Force Recommendations; Reports Posted Online The NABP Executive Committee has approved the recommendations of the following 2008-2009 task forces. The task force reports are posted under News/Press on the NABP Web site. Task Force on...

Published in the March 2009 Idaho State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter 1. What are the prescription transmission rules for legend drugs in general? Refer to Idaho Statute 54.1733(d). The options are summarized as follows: Original practitioner-signed prescription Fax of original...

Published in the March 2009 Delaware State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Regulation 5.11 states that prescriptions and items of personal hygiene shall not be accepted for return or exchange by any pharmacist or pharmacy after such prescription or items of...

Published in the March 2009 Idaho State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The Idaho State legislature has appropriated $255,000 to rewrite the Idaho State Board of Pharmacy law book over the next three years. The Board has contracted with Lynette Berggren,...

Published in the March 2008 Kansas State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The Board of Pharmacy passed a resolution on December 17, 2007, opposing the use of leaf marijuana for medicinal applications unless first approved by the United States Food and...

Published in the March 2009 Kansas State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The Board of Pharmacy added BZP to its Schedule I list. BZP is the common name for the synthetic drug Nbenzylpiperazine, a stimulant that is approximately 10 to 20...

Published in the March 2009 Kansas State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The Board of Pharmacy has promulgated Rules and Regulations related to the Unused Medication Act. For a copy of the statutes and regulations go to the Board Web site...

Published in the March 2009 Kansas State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter DEA and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have discussed electronic prescriptions for controlled substances for several years. DEA proposed regulations that would provide practitioners with the...

Published in the March 2009 Kansas State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter On November 19, 2007, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) published in the Federal Register the Final Rule entitled Issuance of Multiple Prescriptions for Schedule II Controlled Substances (72 FR 64921)....

Published in the March 2009 Kansas State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Pharmacies employing technicians should check the registration status of their technicians to ensure that they are in compliance by employing only properly registered technicians. Pharmacies may check the status of...

Published in the March 2009 Kansas State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The Physician Assistant Licensure Act and the Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner Act do not specifically preclude mid-level practitioners from writing prescriptions for themselves or their family members. The American...

Published in the March 2009 New Mexico Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Every pharmacy in New Mexico has been set up to receive patient utilization reports of controlled substances dispensed. The pharmacist-in-charge can register with the program online and receive a...

Published in the March 2009 Delaware State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter As a reminder, multiple Schedule II prescriptions for the same patient with different dates are permitted. Prescriptions must be written with the date of issue, may not exceed 90...

Published in the March 2009 Delaware State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Regulation 5.8 states that when a pharmacy receives a verbal request for a prescription transfer, it may be honored provided that:  The request comes from a registered pharmacist....

 Published in March 2009 Delaware State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The following automated pharmacy devices have been approved by the Board of Pharmacy: Accudose Cabinet ACUDOSERX-MAIN Baker (Prata) Cell N/A McKessin Robotic 3000 Robot-Rx APS-2 MedCarousel SYS-180-1516.25-NT-UL PacMed ARP-400SL Pyxis...

FDA to Meet with Drug Companies about REMS for Certain OpioidsFood and Drug Administration (FDA) will require manufacturers of certain opioid drugs to develop a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) to ensure that the benefits of the drugs continue...

Providing his witty and insightful views on political headlines and current events, Tucker Carlson, senior campaign correspondent for MSNBC, will present the keynote address at the NABP 105th Annual Meeting. The meeting will be held May 16-19, 2009, at the...

DEA Seeks Input on Safe Disposal of Dispensed Controlled Substances In response to concerns raised by individuals, public and private organizations, the health care industry, and the law enforcement community, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is soliciting information on the disposal...

Published in the February 2009 Ohio State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter During the last session of the 127th General Assembly, several bills were approved by the Legislature that could affect pharmacy practice. There were also several bills that did not...

Published in the February 2009 Ohio State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The Board approved the adoption and filing of several new and revised rules at the December 2008 Board meeting. A copy of all the new and revised rules is...

Published in the February 2009 Missouri Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Center for Emergency Response and Terrorism, announced the December 1, 2008 activation of Show-Me Response, (www.ShowMeResponse.org), an online registration program for health...

Published in the February 2009 Missouri Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Pursuant to 338.013, pharmacies and hospitals are required to report any final disciplinary action taken against a pharmacy technician or the voluntary resignation of a pharmacy technician against whom any...

Published in the February 2009 Alabama State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter §34-23-10 Each pharmacist licensed by the Board shall notify the Board in writing within 10 days on change of employment. The notice shall contain his name, license number, the...

Published in the February 2009 Oregon State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter License fee increases are being considered for several of the Board’s license categories for the upcoming 2009-2011 budget cycle. No one is fond of the idea of imposing increased...

Published in the February 2009 Oregon State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The Board expects all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to engage in practices that provide appropriate, accurate, and professional patient care and ensure patient safety. All pharmacies should take proactive...

Published in the February 2009 Oregon State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB) notified the Board of Pharmacy that it has provided accreditation status to Broadway Apothecary, located at 1712 Willamette Street in Eugene. The pharmacy...

Published in the February 2009 Oregon State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter A recent complaint that resulted in a case being presented to the Board illustrates a common break down in the most basic principles of pharmacy practice. Case No. 08-0400...

Published in the February 2009 Nebraska Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The Nebraska Board of Pharmacy created a grant opportunity with a mission to improve patient safety in pharmacy practice, in honor of Mr Dyke Anderson, dedicated professional to pharmacists and...

Published in the February 2009 Oregon State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Following its December meeting, the Board suggested it is time to revisit and review the pharmacist’s and pharmacy technician’s duty to report suspected violations. Sometimes referred to as the...

Published in the February 2009 Nebraska Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Looking for answers to your controlled substances or Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) questions? DEA has a terrific Web site: www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/. The site contains lists of controlled substances by schedule, order...

Published in the February 2009 Nebraska Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Pharmacies employing technicians should check the registration status of their technicians to ensure that they are in compliance by employing only properly registered technicians. This is part of the compliance...

Published in the February 2009 Nebraska Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Nebraska pharmacists are reminded that the 2008 Nebraska Legislature passed LB 902, which requires that pharmacies conduct a controlled substances inventory annually beginning January 1, 2009. The inventory was previously...

Published in the February 2009 Nebraska Board of Pharmacy Newsletter One of the most common difficulties Nebraska pharmacy licentiates experience is related to 172 NAC 5, “Regulations Relating to Mandatory Reporting by Health Care Professionals, Facilities, Peer Review Organizations, Professional...

NABP Launches Vet-VIPPS to Provide Accreditation of Online Veterinary Pharmacies To further its efforts to protect the public from illegitimate online pharmacies, NABP has launched the Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites™ (Vet-VIPPS™) program, which serves as a means to evaluate...

To further its efforts to protect the public from illegitimate online pharmacies, NABP is pleased to announce the launch of the Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites™ (Vet-VIPPS™) program, which serves as a means to evaluate and accredit legitimately operating online...

Pharmaceutical Industry Agrees to Moratorium on Drug Maker Gifts Pharmaceutical companies have agreed to stop giving branded gifts, such as pens, mugs, and mouse pads, to practitioners starting January 1, 2009. Critics of this practice say it encourages doctors to...

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, DMEPOS suppliers enrolled in Medicare are required to obtain and submit a $50,000 bond for each National Provider Identifier (NPI) to the National Supplier Clearinghouse. This surety bond requirement is not...

Reprinted from the January 2009 New Jersey Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. A final rule has been issued by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (21CFR Parts 201, 208, and 209), which will require all authorized dispensers and pharmacies to provide consumers...

Reprinted from the January 2009 New Jersey Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. The New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners and New Jersey Board of Pharmacy have formulated and approved a final draft which addresses public comments to the proposal previously published...

Reprinted from the January 2009 North Carolina Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. The US Congress recently passed, and the president signed into effect, the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act. The Haight Act marks the federal government’s entry into the...

Reprinted from the January 2009 Minnesota Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. The Board frequently receives questions from pharmacists concerning the legal validity of controlled substance prescriptions that have been electronically “signed.” Such prescriptions may have the electronically captured signature of the...

Repritned from the January 2009 Minnesota Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. As was noted in the last quarterly Newsletter, the Board recently disciplined five pharmacists and one pharmacy for involvement with Internet Web sites that offered to arrange for the sale...

Reprinted from the January 2009 Nevada State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. The Nevada Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy by affirming the Board’s actions of revoking the pharmaceutical wholesaler license of Dutchess Business Services,...

Published in the January 2009 Washington State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Last year the Board announced its intent to develop rules addressing standards for the practice of pharmacy in correctional facilities. The Correctional Committee of the Washington Association of Sheriffs...

Reprinted from the January 2009 Nevada State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. Reminder: It is unacceptable to substitute a practitioner’s name on the prescription label. We often find a prescription written by a physician assistant-certified or advanced practice nurse labeled with...

Reprinted from the January 2009 Nevada State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. For the betterment of the practice of pharmacy and ultimately for the benefit of the patient, the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy has been quite active on the regulatory...

Published in the January 2009 Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Electronic signatures for noncontrolled prescriptions are considered valid. E-mailed Schedule III to V controlled prescriptions must contain a manual signature to be valid at this time. If they are...