Section 20-634 - Dispensing group practices and dispensing assistants. Registration. Fees. Exemptions. Prohibitions. Penalties(a) For the purposes of this section: (1) "Centralized dispensing practitioner" means a prescribing practitioner (A) who is employed by, or affiliated with, a dispensing group practice, and (B) whom the dispensing group practice designates as the prescribing practitioner who is authorized to dispense legend drugs and legend devices on behalf of other prescribing practitioners who are employed by, or affiliated with, such dispensing group practice;(2) "Department" means the Department of Consumer Protection;(3) "Dispense" has the same meaning as provided in section 20-571;(4) "Dispensing assistant" means an individual who is (A) registered with the department under subdivision (1) of subsection (d) of this section, (B) employed by a dispensing group practice, and (C) supervised by (i) the centralized dispensing practitioner, or (ii) a pharmacist employed by the dispensing group practice;(5) "Dispensing group practice" means a group practice that (A) centralizes the dispensing of legend drugs or legend devices prescribed by prescribing practitioners who are employed by, or affiliated with, the group practice through (i) a centralized dispensing practitioner, or (ii) a pharmacist employed by the dispensing group practice, and (B) is registered with the department pursuant to subsection (b) of this section;(6) "Group practice" has the same meaning as provided in section 19a-486i;(7) "Legend device" has the same meaning as provided in section 20-571;(8) "Legend drug" has the same meaning as provided in section 20-571;(9) "Pharmacist" has the same meaning as provided in section 20-571;(10) "Pharmacy technician" means an individual who is registered with the department and qualified in accordance with section 20-598a;(11) "Prescribing practitioner" has the same meaning as provided in section 20-571;(12) "Prescription" has the same meaning as provided in section 20-635;(13) "Professional samples" has the same meaning as provided in section 20-14c; and(14) "Seventy-two-hour supply" means a quantity of a legend drug or legend device that does not exceed the dosage amount necessary for seventy-two hours according to the directions for use of the legend drug or legend device.(b)(1) No group practice may dispense legend drugs or legend devices as a dispensing group practice unless such group practice submits an application to, and receives a registration from, the department under this subdivision. Each application submitted to the department under this subdivision shall be submitted on a form, and in a manner, prescribed by the department and designate a centralized dispensing practitioner or a pharmacist who is employed by the group practice and shall serve as the primary contact for the department, and shall be accompanied by a registration fee in the amount of two hundred dollars. Each registration issued pursuant to this subdivision shall be valid for a period of two years, and the department may renew such registration for additional two-year periods upon its receipt of a complete renewal application submitted on a form, and in a manner, prescribed by the department and a renewal fee of two hundred dollars.(2) Except as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection, each dispensing group practice that dispenses, or proposes to dispense, in this state more than a seventy-two-hour supply of any legend drug or legend device shall (A) register for access to the electronic prescription drug monitoring program established pursuant to subsection (j) of section 21a-254, and (B) comply with all reporting and usage requirements for the electronic prescription drug monitoring program as set forth in subsection (j) of section 21a-254.(3) No dispensing group practice that dispenses, or proposes to dispense, less than a seventy-two-hour supply of legend drugs or legend devices shall be subject to the provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection if such dispensing group practice exclusively dispenses such supply of legend drugs or legend devices as professional samples.(c) A dispensing group practice that employs a pharmacist for the purpose of dispensing legend drugs or legend devices shall not be required to obtain a pharmacy license for the dispensing group practice's premises under section 20-594. The pharmacist shall report directly to a prescribing practitioner who is employed by, or affiliated with, the dispensing group practice, and may supervise dispensing assistants employed by such dispensing group practice, perform in-process and final checks without obtaining any additional verification from the prescribing practitioner to whom such pharmacist reports and perform any component of the practice of pharmacy.(d)(1) No individual may act as a dispensing assistant unless such individual submits an application to, and receives a registration from, the department under this subdivision. Each application submitted to the department under this subdivision shall be submitted on a form, and in a manner, prescribed by the department, and shall be accompanied by a registration fee in the amount of one hundred dollars. Each registration issued pursuant to this subdivision shall be valid for a period of two years, and the department may renew such registration for additional two-year periods upon its receipt of a complete renewal application submitted on a form, and in a manner, prescribed by the department and a renewal fee of one hundred dollars.(2) A dispensing assistant who is registered with the department under subdivision (1) of this subsection may perform the duties of a pharmacy technician, provided the dispensing assistant performs such duties under the supervision of a prescribing practitioner who is employed by or affiliated with, or a pharmacist who is employed by, the dispensing group practice that employs such dispensing assistant. Each dispensing assistant shall be subject to the same responsibilities and liabilities set forth in this chapter, and any regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter, concerning pharmacy technicians.(e) A prescribing practitioner who is employed by, or affiliated with, a dispensing group practice may dispense legend drugs or legend devices to the prescribing practitioner's patients without engaging the services of the centralized dispensing practitioner or a pharmacist who is employed by the dispensing group practice.(f)(1) No centralized dispensing practitioner or pharmacist employed by a dispensing group practice shall dispense a legend drug, legend device or controlled substance for, or order that a legend drug, legend device or controlled substance be dispensed to, any individual who is not being treated by a prescribing practitioner who is employed by, or affiliated with, the dispensing group practice.(2) No dispensing group practice shall accept or dispense any prescription from a prescribing practitioner who is not employed by, or affiliated with, the dispensing group practice.(3) No dispensing group practice shall exhibit within or upon the outside of the premises occupied by such dispensing group practice, or include in any advertisement for such dispensing group practice, (A) the words "drug store", "pharmacy", "apothecary" or "medicine shop" or any combination thereof, or (B) any other display, symbol or word indicating that such dispensing group practice or premises is a pharmacy.(g) The department may refuse to issue or renew a dispensing group practice registration under subsection (b) of this section or a dispensing assistant registration under subsection (d) of this section, revoke, suspend or place conditions on a dispensing group practice's registration issued under subsection (b) of this section or a dispensing assistant's registration under subsection (d) of this section, and assess a civil penalty not to exceed one thousand dollars per violation if the dispensing group practice or a centralized dispensing practitioner, dispensing assistant or pharmacist employed by, or acting as an agent on behalf of, such dispensing group practice violates any provision of (1) subsections (a) to (f), inclusive, of this section, or (2) this chapter, or any regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter, concerning dispensing legend drugs or legend devices.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-634
Added by P.A. 23-0052,S. 1 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2023 Regular Session, eff. 1/1/2024.