CDC Website Regarding Main Street Family Pharmacy

The Centers for Disease Control has established a web site providing twice weekly updates on the investigation of suspected investigations linked to preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate 80 mg/mL injections compounded by Main Street Family Pharmacy.  The CDC website can be viewed here

North Dakota Board of Pharmacy Explains Scheduling of Tramadol

Scheduling of Tramadol
North Dakota House Bill 1070 passed the North Dakota House
and Senate and was signed by Governor Jack Dalrymple. This billincluded revisions to Schedule I through V controlled substances
(CS) based on federal Drug Enforcement Administration scheduling
changes. This year, the bill included scheduling of multiple spiced
cannabinoids and substances marked as bath salts as Schedule I CS.
The other important revision within this bill is the addition
of tramadol and tramadol-containing products as Schedule IV
substances. An initial inventory should have been taken after the
date of scheduling, and the handling of prescriptions for tramadolcontaining
products should conform to the requirements set forward
in state law. As a reminder, North Dakota law does allow electronic
prescribing of CS outside of the stricter federal standards. Since
tramadol, at this time, is only a state CS, the electronic prescribing
of prescriptions for tramadol is not subject to federal regulations.

quoted from North Dakota Board of Pharmacy June 2013 Newsletter

North Dakota Board of Pharmacy Explains Repackaging Rules

Administrative Guidelines for Repackaging of
Prescriptions
Repackaging by provider pharmacies or consultant pharmacists
for patients in long-term care facilities who receive medications
in packaging that does not conform to the medication distribution
system, chosen by the facility, is appropriate under these guidelines:
1. Medication is delivered to the facility or the repackaging
pharmacy so storage and handling under United States Pharmacopeia
guidelines is assured.
2. The dispensing pharmacy provides the manufacturer’s original
lot number and expiration date.
a. If no lot number is provided, an alternate number will be
assigned by the repackaging pharmacy. If there is a recall
of medication dispensed without the original lot number,
the recall will affect all of the named drug.
b. The repackaging pharmacy will assign an expiration date
not more than six months from the date of dispensing by
the original pharmacy, or the original expiration date,
whichever is shortest.
3. A log must be kept by the repackaging pharmacy containing
the following information:
a. Patient’s name
b. Name, address, and phone number of original dispensing
pharmacy
c. The prescription number of the original dispensing pharmacy
d. Date of dispensing by the original dispensing pharmacy
e. Expiration date assigned by the original dispensing pharmacy,
if available
f. The manufacturer’s lot number or the number assigned by
the original dispensing pharmacy, if available
g. The name of the product and identification of the manufacturer
h. The quantity of product received and repackaged
i. The prescription number assigned by the repackaging
pharmacy
j. Lot number assigned by the repackaging pharmacy or
indication that the manufacturer’s original lot number
was used
4. The repackaging pharmacy is responsible for storage of the
unused portion of the prescription until redistribution to the
facility.
5. Charges for repackaging can be borne by the original dispensing
pharmacy or the facility, but cannot be included by the
consultant or repackager as part of another service. These
charges must be billed separately to avoid the appearance
of kickbacks. Medicaid does not allow repackaging charges
directly to the department by the pharmacy. The patient may
not be charged separately, as the distribution system is a
requirement of the nursing facility and should be included in
their rate. The cost is allowable by Medicaid on the facility
cost report.
6. The repackaging pharmacist is the final decision maker as
to whether the repackaging will be done, and the product
utilized by the patient.

quoted from the North Dakota Board of Pharmacy June 2013 Newsletter

Tennessee Board of Pharmacy Meeting Dates and an Open Invitation for all Pharmacists and the General Public to Attend

Tennessee Board of Pharmacy Meeting Dates
The Board extends an open invitation for all pharmacists as well
as the general public to attend its bimonthly meetings in Nashville.
The following dates are scheduled for 2013:
♦♦ July 9-10, 2013, Iris/Poplar Room – 227 French Landing
♦♦ August 28, 2013, Poplar/Iris Room – 227 French Landing
♦♦ August 29, 2013, Iris Room – 227 French Landing
♦♦ November 13-14, 2013, Iris Room – 227 French Landing
Please check the Board Web site as these dates can be subject
to change. Meetings generally begin at 9 am.

Tennessee Board of Pharmacy Opinions Regarding Repackaging

Board Opinions
At the May 14, 2013 meeting, the Board stated that Tennessee
Board of Pharmacy Rule 1140-04-.10 is interpreted to allow pharmacists
in an institutional setting to return and use medication that is
either in unit-dose packaging or unopened commercially prepackaged
containers and, “. . . in the professional judgment of the pharmacist
in charge or designee, the medications or related materials meet all
federal and state board standards for product integrity. . .” Review
the following link for the rule in its entirety: www.state.tn.us/sos/
rules/1140/1140-04.pdf.
At the same meeting, Tennessee Board of Pharmacy Rule 1140-
03-.08 in regard to a pharmacy repackaging another pharmacy’s
medications was discussed. The Board concluded that it is currently
a violation for one pharmacy to repackage another pharmacy’s
medications. The Board agreed that the process would be positive
for patient safety, but a rule change is needed to legalize this type
of activity.
quoted from Tennessee Board of Pharmacy June 2013 Newsletter