Despite efforts to close perceived loopholes that allowed the New England Compounding Center to distribute thousands of tainted steroid injections that killed 50 people, questions continue to arise about the future of the compounding industry.
For compounding pharmacist Stephen Bernardi, who owns and runs Johnson Compounding and Wellness Center with his wife in Waltham, Mass., keeping up with the latest news on oversight, inspections and industry standards has been a challenge. He said he's not sure what compounding pharmacists can expect in the next year.
"We try to read every day, and we see something new every day," said Bernardi. "I don't think it's very clear. ... We think we're doing the right thing."
Since people started getting sick last fall, 17 different state laws began to make their way through state legislatures, some examining whether accreditation should be mandatory for compounding pharmacies, and others clarifying what constitutes a proper prescription, said David Miller, CEO of the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists.
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