CT HB05329

Allows hospitals licensed under Connecticut law that operate a hospital pharmacy to use telepharmacy (electronic technology with bar code tracking, digital photography, and video/audio communication) to enable pharmacists to supervise pharmacy technicians in dispensing sterile products at hospital locations and satellite/remote locations

Expands telepharmacy scope from IV admixtures to all sterile products (compounded drugs not for self-administration intended for hospital use) and removes the requirement for a "clinical" pharmacist designation

Eliminates the pilot program framework and makes telepharmacy a permanent practice option for hospitals, effective July 1, 2012, subject to pharmacist-to-technician ratios and pharmacist verification of all orders before technician dispensing

Requires hospitals using telepharmacy to conduct quality assurance evaluations at least quarterly, including prompt review of any medication administration errors, with evaluations available to the Departments of Consumer Protection and Public Health

Mandates that in case of electronic technology malfunction, sterile products may only be distributed if a licensed pharmacist personally reviews processes or uses recorded electronic data to verify proper procedures were followed