(a) A telepharmacy system shall be used for the dispensing of prescription drugs and providing related drug regimen review and patient counseling services at a remote dispensing site pharmacy.
(b) If all of the requirements of this article and other relevant provisions of this chapter are met, the board shall issue a remote dispensing site pharmacy license for the purpose of increasing access to dispensing or pharmaceutical care services in the geographic area in which the remote dispensing site pharmacy is to be located.
(c) (1) A remote dispensing site pharmacy shall only be located in a medically underserved area unless otherwise approved by the board. For purposes of this section, a “medically underserved area” means a location that does not have a pharmacy that serves the general public within 10 road miles of the remote dispensing site.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if a pharmacy serving the general public is later established within 10 road miles of a remote dispensing site pharmacy, the remote dispensing site pharmacy may continue to operate.
(d) A remote dispensing site pharmacy shall only be staffed by pharmacists or pharmacy technicians, or both, and shall not employ any unlicensed personnel.
(e) A remote dispensing site pharmacy license shall be issued only to the supervising pharmacy. A supervising pharmacy shall not obtain more than one remote dispensing site pharmacy license.
(f) A remote dispensing site pharmacy shall not be operated by the state and shall not be located in any state facility, including, but not limited to, correctional facilities, state hospitals, or developmental centers. This section shall not be construed to preclude a pharmacist who is otherwise eligible to operate a remote dispensing site pharmacy pursuant to this section from leasing space in property owned by the state, provided it is not for the purpose of serving individuals otherwise served by pharmacists and pharmacy technicians employed by the state.
(g) A remote dispensing site pharmacy shall not be located or operated for the purpose of displacing state employees.
(h) If a remote dispensing site pharmacy dispenses more than 225 prescriptions per day, calculated each calendar year, it shall cease to be a remote dispensing site pharmacy and may become a full-service pharmacy licensed under Section 4110 with a pharmacist onsite if it meets all the requirements for licensure for a pharmacy.
(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 548, Sec. 7. (AB 401) Effective January 1, 2018.)