MARCH 18, 2020 | APSC SHAREHOLDERS
OPA Coronavirus Update

The Ohio Pharmacists Association recently sent an email to members regarding a Coronavirus update. To view the entire email, click here . In the email OPA lists emergency guidance and policy changes to help better equip pharmacists and pharmacy staff with the tools they need to protect themselves and the public. The following are a few of those items:

  • March 14: Pharmacists empowered to compound hand sanitizer As hand sanitizer supplies are diminished, many pharmacies struggled to keep their pharmacies clean and to offer needed supplies to their patients. Recognizing that pharmacists can compound sanitizer from scratch, OPA worked with the board to create a temporary allowance for pharmacists to compound their own alcohol-based sanitizer for their own use and distribution to the public.
  • March 16: Extending and expanding pharmacists' authority to dispense emergency refills With many patients and pharmacists having difficulties obtaining reauthorizations of current drug therapy from prescribers, OPA worked with the board to expand emergency dispensing authority. Specifically, the guidance allows the following:
  • Extends the emergency refill of schedule III-V controlled substances to not exceed a thirty-day supply or the days’ supply as indicated in the pharmacy’s records, whichever is less (as opposed to a 72-hour supply limitation).
  • Permits a pharmacist to authorize emergency refills for a particular drug up-to three times
  • in any twelve-month period (as opposed to once in any twelve-month period). This applies to both schedule III-V controlled substances and non-controlled substances.
  • In lieu of three 30-day emergency refills, a pharmacist may dispense a one-time emergency refill of a 90-day supply for a particular non-controlled substance medication.
  • The board also authorized the use of oral prescriptions for schedule II controlled substances as permitted in 21 CFR 1306.11(d).
  • March 16: Empowering compounding pharmacists to step in to address drug shortages As the drug shortages mount, the need for pharmacists to get pragmatic with drug supply grows. Recognizing this, OPA worked with the board to unleash the expertise and skills of Ohio's compounding pharmacists to help fill the void of drugs that are in shortage.
  • Allowing pharmacists to dispense emergency medications without a prescription.

OPA has raised the issues of lack of adequate stock of protective equipment, and cleaning supplies with the board of pharmacy and governor's office. The Ohio Board of Pharmacy has since released guidance addressing the practice of pharmacy in a safe and effective manner .

Visit the OPA website for continuing updates and additional COVID-19 resources. If you have opportunities or concerns that you feel need to be addressed, please contact aciaccia@ohiopharmacists.org .
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