Pharmacy businesses can keep operating during ownership reviews with safeguards

Businesses may operate under their existing Arizona State Board of Pharmacy permits while the board reviews a new owner’s permit application. This applies to businesses holding valid pharmacy board permits when ownership changes. The new owner must notify the board within seven calendar days after the ownership change takes effect and submit a permit application within thirty calendar days after that date. The permit must not be expired, suspended, or revoked. The business must follow applicable laws and rules, and the new owner must accept responsibility for compliance. The board may deny continued operation for health or safety risks, unmet conditions, or credible evidence of fraud, drug diversion, or other grounds for permit denial. Inspections, reporting duties, and enforcement continue. Permission to operate under the existing permit ends when the board issues the new permit or denies the application, whichever happens first.

Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians may apply and pay for license renewal before finishing their required continuing education. This applies to pharmacists and pharmacy technicians renewing their licenses. The board cannot renew the license until the required education is complete. Pharmacy technicians must also have a current board-approved license. The Arizona State Board of Pharmacy must keep renewal forms and procedures consistent with this sequence. Required education must be completed before the license expires for that renewal cycle.

Pharmacists and pharmacies may use employees or delivery companies to deliver prescription medicines to the allowed destinations. Allowed destinations are a medical practitioner’s home or office, the patient’s residence, a hospital, a long-term care facility, a workplace, or another physical address chosen by the patient. Federal law must not prohibit the delivery. At another physical address chosen by the patient, the patient or someone they designate must be available to receive the delivery.

People and businesses must hold a valid Arizona State Board of Pharmacy permit to wholesale or distribute the covered products. Covered products are prescription drugs and devices, controlled substances, nonprescription drugs, chemicals covered by section 13-3401, medical gas, and durable medical equipment.