REMOTE PHARMACY LICENSE                                                                S.B. 340 (S-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                                  ON THIRD READING

Senate Bill 340 (Substitute S-1 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)

Sponsor:  Senator Curtis S. VanderWall

Committee:  Health Policy and Human Services

CONTENT

The bill would amend Part 117 (Pharmacy Practice and Drug Control) of the Public Health Code to do the following:

-- Prohibit a parent company from operating a remote pharmacy unless each was located in Michigan and licensed as a pharmacy.

-- Require the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to grant a pharmacy license to an applicant seeking to operate a remote pharmacy if the applicant met certain requirements, including demonstrating that the proposed remote pharmacy would not be within 10 miles of another pharmacy.

-- Authorize LARA to waive the 10-mile requirement if the applicant provided evidence that the proposed remote pharmacy would be located in an area where there was limited access to pharmacy services.

-- Require a remote pharmacy not under the personal charge of a pharmacist to be staffed by a qualified pharmacy technician.

-- Require the pharmacist in charge (PIC) of a parent pharmacy to serve as the PIC of the remote pharmacy.

-- Require the PIC of a parent pharmacy to establish and maintain a written policy and procedural manual that contained certain information related to a remote pharmacy, including a monthly inspection, video review, and controlled substance inventory reconciliation by the PIC.

-- Exempt a remote pharmacy from certain provisions related to the use of a qualified pharmacy technician's services.

-- Require the PIC to display in a conspicuous location at the remote pharmacy a notice that provided certain information about the remote and parent pharmacy.

-- Prohibit a remote pharmacy from dispensing more than 225 prescriptions per day.

-- Modify certain provisions pertaining to a pharmacist's dispensing a drug to apply to a remote pharmacy.

-- Specify that certain procedures pertaining to refilling a prescription would not apply to a parent pharmacy or a remote pharmacy under certain circumstances.

MCL 333.17707 et al.                                               Legislative Analyst:  Tyler VanHuyse

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill likely would have a minor indeterminate fiscal impact on the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and no impact on local government. The bill would allow applicants to apply for and obtain a pharmacy license for the operation of a remote pharmacy. The revenue generated likely would cover the administrative and operational costs for those activities.

Date Completed:  9-5-19                                         Fiscal Analyst:  Elizabeth Raczkowski

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.