Holmes Reintroduces Remote Dispensing Pharmacy Legislation

COLUMBUS – Remote dispensing pharmacy legislation passed by the House in the 134th General Assembly has been reintroduced by State Representative Adam Holmes (R-Nashport). The legislation was heard by the House Health Provider Services Committee Tuesday. 

The legislation will authorize the State Board of Pharmacy to create rules that will govern the creation of a remote dispensing pharmacy system. 

A remote dispensing pharmacy is a traditional brick-and-mortar pharmacy without a certified pharmacists onsite. Pharmacy technicians fill patient’s orders while a pharmacists reviews orders using telepharmacy software from a remote location.     

“This is legislation that will expand access to critical medication for patients,” said Holmes. “By reducing some of the regulation, but still keeping a frame work of rules in place we can expand medication access by allowing a certified pharmacist to oversee filling medication orders and provide counseling for patients about their medication electronically.” 

Holmes’ legislation has also built in safety standards to make sure pharmacies are not over medicating. 

The legislation establishes prescription filling rates that cannot exceed 150 prescriptions per day in a 90-day period and an eligible pharmacy must also implement quality assurance plan to ensure a monitoring process.

“Safety has to be the number one priority as we roll out this new approach to providing medication,” Holmes added. “We want to provide quality care, but in a responsible manner.” 

To become an eligible remote dispensing pharmacy, a pharmacy must:

• Be licensed by the Pharmacy Board.
• Be staffed by two or more pharmacy interns or certified pharmacy technicians.
• Be overseen and operated by a supervising pharmacy and pharmacists. 
• Operate using only a board approved telepharmacy system.
• Be physically located in Ohio.

The legislation now awaits additional hearings in the House Health Provider Services Committee.