CS/CS/HB 679 - Telepharmacy Summary

• Establishes "remote dispensing site pharmacy" as a new pharmacy type where registered pharmacy technicians electronically supervised by off-site pharmacists prepare and dispense drugs after pharmacist verification, dosage certification, and patient counseling.

• Requires remote dispensing site pharmacies to be located in rural areas at least 10 miles from existing community pharmacies, jointly owned or contracted with a supervising pharmacy, and equipped with 24-hour video surveillance with 45-day retention.

• Authorizes registered pharmacy technicians to dispense medicinal drugs under electronic supervision of an off-site pharmacist, but prohibits them from performing sterile or nonsterile compounding except reconstituting orally administered powder antibiotics.

• Requires prescription department managers to visit remote sites per board schedule for inspections and clinical services; technicians must have completed 2,080 hours of pharmacy experience within the prior 2 years.

• Allows a Florida licensed pharmacist to serve as prescription department manager at up to two remote dispensing site pharmacies under common control; effective date July 1, 2018.