Proposal sets pharmacy staffing and prescription transfer rules

An accredited pharmacy program could decide when an applicant takes the pharmacy law exam. This applies to people seeking pharmacist licenses and the accredited pharmacy programs they attend. Applicants must still pass the pharmacy law exam to receive a pharmacist license.

A pharmacist could supervise up to four pharmacy technicians and pharmacist interns together. This applies to pharmacists supervising pharmacy technicians and pharmacist interns. When supervising four pharmacy technicians, at least one must be certified. Pharmacist interns must be supervised while doing intern work, except during training directed by their accredited pharmacy program.

Pharmacies could transfer certain prescription information for refills. These rules cover transfers between pharmacies for refill dispensing. For Schedule III, IV, or V controlled drugs and other drugs or devices not listed as controlled substances, transfers are generally limited to one time; pharmacies sharing a real-time online database could transfer up to the refills allowed by law and authorized by the prescriber. For other drugs or devices not listed as controlled substances, transfers could not exceed the original refill count, and the original prescription must still be valid. Pharmacists or interns must record transfer details, and both pharmacies must keep the original and transferred prescriptions for five years. Both pharmacies must keep the original and transferred prescriptions for five years from the transfer date.

The proposal would repeal section 81-6,103 and remove references to that section from related registry provisions. This concerns Nebraska’s Parkinson’s Disease Registry Act. The amended provisions continue to refer to reports under section 81-6,102.